Tip of the week: How to prune trees and shrubs

Act early. “Winter is pruning time for shade and fruit trees, and for most summer-blooming trees and shrubs.” To be ready for any size branch, bring along a hand pruner, long-handled loppers, and a pruning saw—all well sharpened.

Know your goal. Don’t prune mindlessly. Aim to remove “all crossing or touching branches, dead or damaged limbs, suckers and water sprouts.” Suckers are branches that emerge at the base of trees; water sprouts are vertical shoots that grow out of flowering branches. To avoid creating stubs, you should make all cuts “just above the spot where the limb meets another branch.”

Follow up. Return to each tree or shrub after spring leaves appear and “remove any dead branches you missed.” Dormant pruning is better for the plant—but you can’t always see every flaw.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Source: Better Homes and Gardens