Preview the feature article from This Month's EXTRA!
PRUNING 101
Do you have a fear of pruning? Let’s nip it in the bud!There is probably no gardening task that generates as much fear in home gardeners as pruning, and because of this, many homeowners want to ignore it.
However, if you ignore pruning, your trees will only get worse. Remember that Nature is the “Great Pruner.” For example, when trees grow too close together, branches die as they compete for sunlight and airflow.
Pruning is also a vital part of gardening. The key is to know why we’re sharpening our shears. Do it! Consider these three reasons: - Thin. Remove to improve. Thinning prevents confusion of a plant’s structural line and enhances it health.
- Reduce. In Nature, most plants we grow are in splendid isolation, trying to spread unnaturally fast. Our job is to prevent certain shrubs and trees from outgrowing their position in a yard.
- Amputate. It sounds harsh, but severe pruning is necessary to restore older trees and shrubs to better health. Most plants are amazingly forgiving with experimentation.
See more information on how to prune your trees and shrubs!
Click to read the full article on Almanac.com. |
