Before. After.
PRUNING
i'.
By Bob Bolt
Before.
After.
2 Yr. Old
After.
2 Yr. Old
Before.
TOP; A rose plant of the Tea or Hybrid Tea
type before and after being pruned.
CENTER: A young apple tree planted and
properly trimmed.
BOTTOM: A two-year old apple tree before
and after being pruned. Note that the lower
limbs and the excess side branches have been
taken off. The future scaffold limbs and short
fruiting wood remains.
14
There is a natural urge at
this time of year for all
gardeners to get out the prun
ing shears, sharpen the saws,
and go to work on fruit trees
and vines. However, this kind
of work is too often done
carelessly and without proper
kn^owledge of proper pruning or the purposes for
which pruning is done.
Generally speaking, pruning is done when the
trees or vines are dormant. In some cases with
young trees, summer pruning is necessary for
trainmg the young tree to the proper shape and
to provide a strong set of scaffold limbs.
Pruning is done for a number of reasons: to
tram the young tree to proper shape, to retard
growth to restore a balance between the root and
top growth, to increase the quantity or quality of
fruit, to remove dead or diseased wood, to remove
unnecessary wood, and others.
To achieve the necessary results, the grower
must also have an understanding of the results of
pruning Heavy pruning of top growth is always
followed by a vigorous increase in new growth.
Heavy pruning disturbs the balance between the
top and the root growth. Heavy pruning is done
to rejuvenate old trees, to increase the vigor of
weak trees and, as in the case of grapes, to bring
about a vigorous growth of new fruiting wood.
As might be expected, root pruning retards the
growth of the top. Root pruning also increases
the fruitfulness of the plant. Shrubs that are to
be transplanted benefit by root pruning if done
some time before removal is to take place. Pruned
plants tend to return to natural shape so that an
nual pruning is necessary in most cases. Winter
pruning tends to increase formation of new wood
while summer pruning favors development of
fruit buds. Summer pruning is not generally prac
ticed because pruning cuts made in summer do
not heal as well as those made in the winter while
the tree is dormant, pruning in summer is dif
ficult because of the foliage, and most growers