Time to prune?
taras1949
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
Related Discussions
Best time to prune ornamental cherry
Comments (9)Katrina, the 'best' time for nearly all tree pruning is dormant season, late dormant season to be exact. But, the difference between the 'best' and 'worst' times is not huge. Don't get too stressed about that factor. If one simply avoids pruning when A) The tree is making leaves, ie. Spring, or B) the tree is shedding its leaves, ie. Fall, everything will be fine. And those 1/2 inch thick branches are by no means too large for the tree to handle having them removed. The idea that a flowering tree should be pruned right after flowering is that by so doing, you are not removing flower buds for next year. This is true, but it is far outweighed by other advantages of dormant-season pruning. These are: You can see the structure better, you are allowing the tree to have open wounds for the least amount of time before resumption of growth in Spring, the plant will be poised to put its energy into the branches you leave on the tree and will not have wasted energy in producing leaves only to have them cut off, and finally, disease pressure is usually lower at this time of year. FWIW, the organization I work for manages perhaps thirty to forty thousand individual trees. We prune year round, out of necessity, avoiding only those two times mentioned above. There are a few individual variances we follow as well. We prune no oaks during during growing season, as this can open up the plant to oak wilt. We prune no honey locusts on wet days, as this can set the stage for nectria canker development, and any shearing-type pruning such as Japanese yew hedges are done in summer, no later than August, so the wounds can close before winter, thereby avoiding dessication of the cut stems. But otherwise, you really do have a large window during which the pruning can safely (For the tree) be done. There may be a difference from one region to another in terms of pathogens and host susceptability, but at least where I do my work, I wouldn't think twice about whether or not to prune a cherry, or any other ornamental tree, during late winter. I don't wish to come across like mine is the last word on the subject, but I can state unequivocably that I've done literally thousands of such prunings with no harm done to the plants. Trying to help here ;^) +oM...See MoreTime to prune my favorite giraffe Adenium
Comments (116)Thank you for the compliment, Rick. I felt the need to find the perfect pot for all 3 plants before I could pot them, if that makes any sense at all. I am looking forward to seeing them respond with new growth. Next weekend I will be repotting some of my 16 week old A. obesum and A. arabicum seedlings. Some of the multiple plants that we found in Florida gave me a couple of ideas with the repots. I would like to try potting up some juveniles together and train them to form unique duos and trios. If I use 3 different cultivars then come blooming time, if I am lucky there will be 3 different types of flowers on them too. Just an idea...perhaps it will be good material to start a new thread. Tracy...See MoreDone blooming? Time to prune?
Comments (3)Lightly pruning after the initial bloom flush on many varieties of pruning group 2 clems can result in another lighter bloom flush later in the summer. Personally, I have never followed this practice. When I grew a lot of group 2 clems, I pruned them like group 3's with a hard pruning each winter and that was it. They bloomed in late May/June and managed to produce again in August all on their own. I just don't have the time to be able to fuss around with additional pruning at this time of year - too many other gardening things going on....See MoreBest time to prune leggy salvias
Comments (6)They have a saying in Central Texas for Salvia greggii to trim them in months that begin with J. I doubt if that is true about all sorts of salvias or all areas of Texas. i.e. I can only dream of gulf moisture and am praying for a small tropical system in hushed tones so the guys on the coast don't hear me. We have not had rain since June 10th. All the plants were made into spoiled brats by the excessive rain and their roots rotted and now they have nothing to look for water. They look miserable. Even the Greggi's and reglas. My summer prune is less than my winter prune....See Moretaras1949
6 years agotaras1949
6 years agotaras1949
6 years agotaras1949
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years agoa1an
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Related Stories
WINTER GARDENINGPruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses
Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms
Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGot Frost-Damaged Plants? How It Happens, and When and How to Prune
Crispy brown leaves are a sure sign that Jack Frost has been to your neighborhood
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSWhy Grow Quince? For Beauty, Fragrance and Old-Time Flavor
Delightfully perfumed fruit and lovely spring blossoms make this apple and pear cousin worth a spot in the garden
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNDesign Solutions for the Time-Strapped Gardener
Landscaping for easy maintenance can help make your garden more manageable — and pleasurable to be in
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES10 Easy Edibles for First-Time Gardeners
Focus on these beginner-friendly vegetables, herbs, beans and salad greens to start a home farm with little fuss
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESPacific Northwest Gardener: What to Do in June
Now's the time to prune pines and vines, prevent pests and buy June-blooming plants to keep your garden healthy and beautiful
Full StoryWINTER GARDENINGCalifornia Gardener's January Checklist
Winter-defying blooms and pruning saws earn a cheer, while California-focused gardening design books get a well-deserved shout-out
Full StoryREGIONAL GARDEN GUIDESSoutheast Gardener's February Checklist
Pinch, prune and prepare this month — springtime's riches in the garden will be here before you know it
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESSouthwest Gardener's March Checklist
Dust off your gardening tools and get busy pruning to help your trees and plants reach their full potential
Full Story
NHBabs z4b-5a NH