How to Prune Trees and Bushes

To have a beautiful garden it is not enough to plant different types of flowering plants and water them from time to time. In order for them to stay in optimal condition, it is important that they receive different types of care on an ongoing basis.

Although gardening can be very arduous, since it involves preparing the land, fertilizing it, selecting the best seeds, sowing them, watering them, etc., at the same time it can become a very rewarding activity.

Who sows a seed can experience firsthand how it develops and grows. As time passes, he sees how its stem gains strength and how its grow. How its first flowers begin to ripen and sprout, and how many of these become fruits that can later be brought to the table at home.

In addition, gardening is beneficial for the physical and emotional health of those who practice it. Hence, many therapists recommend it to improve the conditions of their patients and to lead fuller and happier lives.

This practice requires time, effort and dedication, since it must also be ensured that the plants do not get out of control. For example, lawns, trees, and shrubs need to be trimmed on a regular basis so that the garden can look neat and aesthetic. Otherwise, you’ll draw attention for the wrong reasons.

But what if you don’t know how to accomplish this task? How can you prune the trees and shrubs in your garden to keep them growing healthy and strong and to keep them looking immaculate?

During this article we will be sharing with you some suggestions on how to do it.  Likewise, we will tell you what materials you need to achieve it and certain tips to achieve a good pruning of trees and bushes. Let’s see it now.

Instructions for trimming trees and shrubs

Pruning is a fundamental aspect for plants to enjoy good health, so it is not simply an aesthetic issue. Regular pruning allows trees and shrubs to sprout and bloom again and again.

By carrying it out, you help eliminate those branches that are unnecessary, which make the plant lose its vigor so that they can grow harmoniously.

Another great advantage that pruning offers is that it allows you to define the shape that the plants will acquire from the moment they are planted until they reach adulthood. As for fruit trees, the purpose is to favor their fruition.

However, pruning must be adapted to the type of tree you have in the garden, since there are certain species that do not tolerate it well. Therefore, in these cases, you should only limit yourself to balancing the tree or bush.

To know what is the correct way to prune a tree and a bush, you must take into account that there are different types of cuts:

• The reduction cut: as its name indicates, it consists of the reduction of a branch by removing the portion until reaching a lateral branch that is of greater or equal diameter. This side branch will now provide support and survival.

The objective of this type of cutting is to improve the structure of the plant. Likewise, it seeks to correctly direct growth, remove imperfections or reduce the size of the tree.

• Removal: requires the removal of a branch completely, until reaching the trunk. Which should be of a larger diameter. If this difference does not exist, the trunk that remains will be considerably affected and will end up weakening.
• Topping: it is about cutting branches or shoots of young appearance, which are not more than one year old. With it, the section of a stem is reduced to the bud or node, without affecting the nearby lateral branches. This is a common practice after a storm, at which time the tree suffers a lot of damage.

Making a cut is usually easy when the branches are small and can be held with the help of one hand. If the branch is larger, and you cannot hold it with your hand, in this case you must apply the so-called ternary method, which consists of making three cuts.

The first, called a direction cut, is made at the base of the branch 6 to 12 inches away.  Then there is the reduction cut, which is made above the address cut. In this way, it reduces the total weight of the branch.

Finally, the last cut is made at the bark ridge of the branch and the outer portion of the branch collar, below the joint. We can say that the cut has been made correctly when the edge is at the level of the shoot and the bud and its inclination is not too pronounced. But what do you need to prune your trees and shrubs?

What do you need to prune trees and shrubs?

To carry out this task, it is necessary to have the appropriate tools, as well as to use personal protective equipment, among which gloves and a hat or helmet with a visor stand out, especially if you plan to use a chainsaw.

Other necessary tools are:

• The pruning shears.
• The shear.
• Saw for wood.
• Chainsaw and
• Height or telescopic chainsaw.

On the other hand, keep in mind that after you finish trimming your trees and bushes, you will need to clean the tools so that they can continue to function properly. For example, in the case of scissors, it is common for traces of sap or resin to remain. In this case, you can use a wire brush to remove it, and then clean the scissor blades with a little oil.

If you notice that it lacks sharpness, you can sharpen it with a wet whetstone. But, what other recommendations should you take into account to carry out the pruning correctly?

Tips for pruning trees and shrubs

In view of what pruning implies for plants, it is important that you have a few points clear:

• Every cut made to a tree or shrub, good or bad, has the potential to change it.  Which means that, if you have applied a bad technique, you can cause irreversible damage to the plant. What shows that you should never prune if you are not clear about what you want to achieve with it.
• Trees do not heal in the same way that humans do. When a tree is wounded, tissue develops over this wound and compartmentalizes it, meaning that the wound stays inside the tree forever.
• There are many factors that determine the ideal way and time to perform pruning. In other words, there are no standard rules.
• The damage caused by the cuts must be proportional to the size of the tree or bush. The larger the size, the greater the damage can be. The opposite also is true.  Hence the importance of starting pruning while the tree is still young. If you wait until it reaches the adult stage to start pruning, the cuts will be bigger and the damage will be worse.

It is essential that you keep in mind that pruning is not simply about cutting branches left and right. Actually, there is a whole world involved in this maintenance technique.  And, although the tree or bush suffers irreversible injuries, pruning contributes to its good development.

Now that you know the basics of how to prune, the best thing you can do is get to work today. Cut the branches that prevent your trees and shrubs from growing in the best way. Remember that it is not only a matter of aesthetics. Their production capacity, the shade they provide and other factors are also at stake.