Step by step
Check that tree ties are secure
Pruning made easy
The four key tips to remember
Cut away dead and diseased wood to healthy growth and remember to sterilise your blades afterwards.
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I’m pruning a ‘Conference’ pear to keep it in shape and encourage better fruiting this summer
It’s easy to get carried away when pruning, so remember the old saying ‘look twice and cut once’ so you don’t ruin your tree with overpruning.
Last chance to get pruning
Ruth recommends you get it done before the sap rises
All photography TI Media
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HERE are two main reasons a platform, make sure you have why we prune trees and shrubs; someone at hand to hold the steps to keep them healthy and in steady and help out where necessary. good shape; and, in the case The key requirements for successful of varieties that produce fruits, to keep pruning are sharp, clean tools – them cropping well. secateurs, loppers and a saw – a The dormant weeks of winter are granular feed and well-rotted compost the main pruning times (see page 5 for or manure for afterwards and a compost exceptions) and as spring is hopefully heap or garden-waste bin for prunings. advancing towards us wi eal healthy shape for welcome haste, time is and shrubs is an open running out to get any blet’ that allows good necessary cutting back flow through the done and dusted. ranches and gives If cutting back is left lenty of space for until buds start to swell ew growth. There and leaves unfurl, the hould be a balance pruning wounds will f old and new stems bleed more sap, which rne on a strong and can weaken the tree and lthy framework. Angled cuts will present entry points for wly planted trees and repel rain pests and diseases. ill only need a light trim The thought of pruning can be to keep them in shape and growing daunting, but it needn’t be as the ‘rules’ as you want for the first few years. are pretty straightforward and the results As a general rule of thumb, cut back can be spectacular. My one caveat is healthy growth to a healthy bud that is that if you have a very large tree that growing outwards or in the direction needs substantial pruning through you would like new growth to go. neglect or damage, it is worth calling a Make the pruning cuts at an angle so professional tree surgeon to do the job that water runs off instead of collecting properly and safely. and softening the wood, which may start If it is a job you think you can tackle on to rot. There is no need to use wound your own, but with the use of ladders or paint as healthy wood heals itself. 4 AMATEUR GARDENING 1 FEBRUARY 2020
Remove spindly shoots and any that are growing inwards, cluttering up the centre of the tree or shrub.
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Prune out extra shoots growing from the base of the trunk so they don’t crowd the main growth, and steal water and nutrients.
Remove broken and splintered wood cleanly before it can admit pests or infections or, in the case of larger branches, become dangerous to people and buildings.
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