Tree Trim Tips
Free pruning workshop to be held
Do you have trees on your property that need a little TLC? Mark your calendar now for a free Mastering the Basics of Pruning workshop on Saturday, March 1. This event is hosted by Nebraska Extension and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. Sarah Browning, extension educator, will be the presenter for the workshop, which will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the 4H building at the York County Fairgrounds. Light refreshments will be served. In addition to learning info about pruning, a representative from the Nebraska Forest Service will be present to answer questions about tree care. For more info, visit www.upperbigblue.org/events.
Spring Tree Pruning: Fruit and Shade Trees
By Sarah Browning, Extension Educator
Many gardeners have questions at this time of year about spring pruning...
- Will early pruning cause fruit tree leaf and flower buds to develop earlier and possibly be damaged by normal spring frosts?
- Should pruning still be done in March and early April or should it be done earlier if conditions have been warm?
- What about shade trees? Should any adjustments in the time of pruning be made in response to warm conditions?
Let’s discuss each question, but first it’s important to understand woody plant leaf and flower buds were formed last fall. They are already present on branch twigs, so you should be able to find dormant buds when doing a close examination of your plant now. The presence of buds now is normal and does not mean plants are actively growing yet.
Does pruning cause early leaf and flower bud development?
Does pruning cause early leaf and flower bud development?
No, pruning actually has a slight delaying effect on bud growth.
After pruning, a plant must adjust and begin sending growth hormones to new buds, since the preferred buds at the tips of branches removed are now gone. This process could take about 10 days, so bud development is slowed down a little. Note: it’s risky for growers to use pruning to slow down and “protect” flower buds.
Less winter-hardy fruit trees like peach, apricot, and sweet cherry, should always be pruned late, usually mid-March to early April, no matter how much warm mid-winter weather we experience. Pruning is done just before new growth starts. This is also the best practice for the more cold-hardy fruits, like pear, apple, plum, and tart cherry, as well as shade trees.
Why? Pruning at this time has two big benefits. First, there is less chance of cold damage at the pruning sites. Second, plants heal pruning wounds much faster if the cuts are made just before new growth begins.
There’s still plenty of time for cold late winter temperatures and freezes, which will slow bud development down. Early pruning leaves plants susceptible to cold temperature injury at the pruning sites.
For homeowners who can choose the ideal time to prune, shade trees should also be pruned just before growth begins in spring. If you need to hire an arborist to prune a large tree, any time before early May would be a great time to do it.
For homeowners who can choose the ideal time to prune, shade trees should also be pruned just before growth begins in spring. If you need to hire an arborist to prune a large tree, any time before early May would be a great time to do it.
