What To Prune

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The Four D’s

Prune by using the four D’s to determine what to cut: dead, diseased, damaged, and dysfunctional.

Enjoy,

David Proctor

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Pruning For Healthy Plants

by David Proctor

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January 18, 2024

Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine    Published Weekly

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Pruning has some basic techniques that can be utilized by the novice pruner to know when and where to make those critical cuts.

Prune by using the four D’s to determine what to cut: dead, diseased, damaged, and dysfunctional.

Start with making sure that the tools you are using are sharp and clean.  

There are many inexpensive products that can be purchased for sharpening pruning shears and loppers.  

You want sharp tools to limit the crushing effect that you get when using one that is dull.

Start by removing dead and diseased limbs, and unwanted growth such as suckers and water sprouts.  

Suckers are the growth from the root system and water sprouts are shoots that grow rapidly upward such as you will see when trees are top-cut.

The “when” to prune is generally answered by when a plant is in dormancy.  

There are exceptions to pruning during dormancy depending on the plant and the outcome that you want, but now is the time to remove dead branches and shape the plants for spring.

Pruning helps plant vigor and keeps the plant in a healthy and attractive state for the growth of blooms and fruit. 

So sharpen your tools and give your plants that needed pre-spring cut and you will be rewarded with the fruit of your efforts.

Pun intended.

This is the best time of year to prune, while your plants are in dormancy. 

“The worst decision you can make about pruning is not to prune at all.”

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Check It Out!

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Quick Tip

• “Use sharp pruning shears for any cuts on branches smaller than 1/2 inch in diameter. Use loppers or a pruning saw for larger-diameter wood.
• Cut thin diameter branches 1/4 inch above a bud that is facing in a direction you want the new branch to grow. Make the cut at an angle to shed water and promote faster healing.
• Horizontal branches produce more fruit than vertical ones. Prune vertical branches back to a main stem or trunk.
• In spring and summer, remove suckers arising from the base of the tree and water sprouts arising from branches. Depending on the cuts and type of tree, pruning can stimulate lots of this type of growth, so it’s best to remove it quickly so the tree can put more energy into growing fruiting branches.
• Prune moderately every year to keep the tree healthy and fruiting consistently. The tendency of some fruit trees to bear in alternate years can be caused by insufficient pruning.”

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Bibliography:

http://www.avtreefarm.com/pdf/Fruit%20Tree%20Pruning%20Basics.pdf by Tom Del Hotal

http://cesonoma.ucanr.edu/files/27164.pdf
TEN BASICS OF WHEN AND HOW TO PRUNE FRUIT TREES by Paul Vossen 

https://www.pinterest.com/motherearthnews/

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=pruning-fruit
Edible Landscaping with Charlie Nardozzi

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