Spring pruning: what to prune now and where to take the time

I like the idea that spring pruning should be fun. Then wait for a day when the weather is nice to go outside and go to work. Fun exercise for you and good for the trees. But as with every rule, there are exceptions. What can be pruned in spring and what is better to do at another time of the year, the green specialist said They were Marozienė.

By the way, you can meet her in our courses «Pruning fruit trees«, if you want to not only listen to it, but also try it yourself. Well, let’s get started now:

Spring pruning: when is the right time?

There is actually no single answer as to when to prune trees, as it can be done all year round. Only about two weeks pass before the trees sprout their buds, at which time it is best not to touch them.

However, each season has its own nuances that we need to think about. Here Vaiva shared some:

specific instructions for the first sowing

• If we want to shape the hair, hoping to give it a nice shape, then in summer we will hardly see what to cut among the leaves. If you model when there are no leaves, you will see everything much more clearly;
• Late in autumn it is also theoretically possible to prune, especially larger trees – it is difficult to predict in advance what the winter will be like, perhaps a branch will freeze, perhaps it will break due to the weight of snow – it is often inexpedient to prune trees in advance;
• In winter and it’s not very pleasant to prune: it’s cold. Furthermore, we are more likely to do more harm to the tree than help it, because the branches become as brittle as glass due to the cold.
• Springthat is, March, April is a great time for pruning, because the sun is already shining stronger, so, first of all, it’s fun to be outdoors. But the branches also regenerate and turn green much faster, because in spring everything grows so strongly.

Not all are recommended for spring pruning

As good as spring is for pruning, there are exceptions. Not everyone will like it if you prune them when nature resurrects. Best branches in spring do not cut for the following trees and shrubs:

• birches,
• clam,
• for the black and white mulberry,
• for the grapes.

In spring, water saturated with minerals flows through the trunks of representatives of the birch family into the buds. It is also called juice. For such «weeping» plants, spring pruning can be disastrous. It is better to wait until such an active flow period has passed.

By the way, pay attention to sedge hedges, which are becoming very popular. I also advise against training them in spring, because they are also classified as representatives of the aforementioned family.

What makes spring hedge pruning special

We can prune the hedges every month. To tell the truth, the more often we prune them, the thicker and more beautiful the hedge will be. So V. Marozienė advises not to be afraid to cut the hedge as soon as new shoots appear.

Zalčialunkis – beautiful, but dangerous. Why not even touch it

Choosing when it’s best to do more serious pruning depends on your goals:

• If we want the hedge to grow as quickly as possible, we must prune it in spring, because the bushes and trees pruned in this period are stimulated to grow.
• If our goal is to shape and maintain the desired shape for as long as possible, it is better to carry out pruning in summer or autumn. At this time the hedge will not grow as quickly and we will be able to maintain its shape much easier.

Spring pruning of shrubs and fruit trees

If you don’t know how to prune fruit trees and shrubs, take care of at least the basic things, which should be like hygiene:

• Remove all dry, broken, damaged branches;
• Cut the branches that sprout upwards: they are most likely willows that have not been removed and will not adapt anyway;
• Remove branches that go directly above each other, in other words, both are looking in the same direction. The upper one blocks the sun from the lower one, so when you remove one, life will get better for the other;
• Arrange the branches crossed: cut one;
• Branches that do not move away from the trunk, but turn and go towards the trunk, can also be cut.

When pruning fruit bushes such as currants, gooseberries, gooseberries, it is not necessary to remove more than 30% of the old branches. The same law applies to apple trees and other fruit trees. So, if you have taken the trouble to clean up an abandoned tree or bush, you will get closer to the above number by doing this sanitary pruning yourself. And if your tree has previously been pruned by a professional, these basic rules will guide you on how to continue caring for your tree.

Old branches can be cut for pruning bushes or simply for the purpose of rejuvenating the bush, but of course gradually, not all at once! The same 30% rule applies here too.

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Spring pruning is beneficial because you will enjoy the time spent outdoors and the trees and shrubs will benefit because everything grows, heals and regenerates much faster during this time.