CHAPTER V 

 PRUNING 



THE purpose of pruning is to produce a new growth, either of 

 flower or foliage ; to control or guide the shaping of the plant ; and 

 to remove broken or diseased parts. Have a definite and useful 

 purpose as the object in all cases. Do not prune while the sap is 

 running in the spring or so late in the summer that new growth will not 

 have a chance to ripen off before winter. 



How PRUNING AFFECTS THE GROWTH OF PLANTS 



To do pruning intelligently one must understand the tendencies of 

 growth in plants and the resultant effects of different types of pruning. 



In deciduous material, all wood growth comes from buds that 

 form at the ends or sides of the branches. The dismemberment of 

 terminal buds stimulates the growth of the lateral buds. Removal of 

 lateral buds will stimulate the growth at the tips of branches. The 

 severing of a shrub branch below the lowest developed bud will cause 

 the branch either to die or send out new growth from adventitious (newly 

 formed) buds. Cutting off branches close to the ground encourages 

 growth from the base or crown. 



IMPLEMENTS FOR PRUNING 



There are various styles and sizes of pruning shears and knives 

 available. Any dealer will assist in choosing implements for pruning 

 if the purpose for which the tool is to be used is mentioned. For 

 ordinary work a pair of light shears is all that is needed. 



PRUNING SHRUBS 



In cutting the branch, t^e cut should be made above the bud as 

 shown in the diagram. (Fig. 7). Newly planted shrubs should be 

 watched to see that the strength does not all go into one or two shoots. 

 A heavy bushy growth should be encouraged. In pruning all shrubs 

 which are not purposely ured fcr formal effects, care should be taken 

 to preserve the natural grace and form of the plant. A tendency quite 

 frequently exhibited by care takers is to go about trimming off the ends 

 of all branches until in their appearance the shrubs resemble a series of 

 dense and irregular mounds, entirely devoid of that gracefulness and 

 play of light and shadow revealed in the natural growth. 



