The 1/3 rule involves cutting about 1/3 of wood during any pruning activity. This kind of moderate pruning is like giving your shrubs a good balance – it thins them out a bit and encourages new growth.
The closer to the tree's trunk roots are cut, the more significant and harmful the damage will be. The 25% Rule – Never cut roots beyond 25 percent of a tree's total volume. The tree may die or fall as a result of this.
The first consideration for pruning the canopy of young trees is called the Five D's. These are branches that can and should be removed at transplanting, or at any time as the tree is maturing. The Five D's are any branches that are Dead, Dying, Damaged, Diseased and Deformed.
The only time that's not ideal to prune is right before fall - late summer/early fall. Then the tree doesn't have time to heal and you're maximizing the time for the exposed cut to be exposed to disease, rot, wind drying, too wet, all winter long, etc. Other than that, prune all year long.
Pruning in summer may encourage vigor. In summertime, weak tree growth should be pinched or pruned back about 3 inches from the end of each soft, leafy shoot. This can be repeated in late summer if rapid side-shoot growth occurs.
Generally, the best time to prune or trim trees and shrubs is during the winter months. From November through March, most trees are dormant which makes it the ideal time for the following reasons: Trees are less susceptible to insects or disease.
Branches should be pruned at the branch collar-NOT at mid-branch. Mid-branch pruning, called tipping or topping depending on branch size, is harmful to trees, promotes the growth of weakly attached epicormic sprouts, and can lead to the death of the branch or the tree! Sharp, clean tools make the smoothest cuts.
Once a tree has been topped, its ability to grow and stay healthy is lessened. Instead of a strong trunk and branches, it is more likely that weak, fragile, upright branches, also known as water sprouts, will grow. This occurs because dormant buds are stimulated into growth when other branches are pruned.
Pruning during the growing season always stimulates new growth. During summer's heat, having to produce that ill-timed new flush of growth greatly stresses a tree. Pruning in the fall is even worse as it prevents the tree from going into a natural dormancy. The exception is heavily damaged, disease or dead wood.
Tree 'lacing', also called tree 'shaping' is a fancy term for helping a tree become healthier by trimming specific branches to ensure the remaining branches are getting the nutrients they need – think of removing the weak to protect the strong.
You can't cut down Live Oaks, Southern Magnolias, Bald Cypresses, or Eastern Red Cedars without a permit. These trees are considered heritage trees due to their size, age, or species. Live Oaks are cherished for their broad-spreading crowns and longevity.
During the spring, diseases and harmful insects are no longer dormant, and when you trim your trees in the spring, they can spread to other trees. In addition, trees that are trimmed in the spring may not have enough time to heal, making them more susceptible to unwanted pests and diseases.
Pruning lower branches from trees is not harmful and benefits the tree's overall health when done properly. However, improper pruning techniques can damage a tree and lead to decay, stress, diseases, and reduced growth. It's important to use the correct methods or hire a professional.
Tree pruning involves the removal of live branches, as well as dead, diseased, and damaged branches for the health of the tree, while tree trimming only involves the removal of branches that interfere in some way.
General Pruning Guidelines
Prune most shrubs, fruit trees, and shade trees in the early spring while they are still dormant (before March). 2. Some trees will bleed sap if they are pruned in the spring. Prune trees that bleed either in the summer or in the late-fall.
During excessively cold temperatures
Plants are more brittle in cold temperatures. Messing around with them may cause branches to snap and split unintentionally. It's minor, but it could impact the look of a plant or create a haven for insects and diseases later. Don't prune when the temperature falls below 25°F.
LaRene Bautner from Millcreek Gardens demonstrates a trimming tutorial with focus on the “3 D's for pruning” : Dead, Diseased, Damaged.
Using a sharp knife (or pruners) cut just below where a leaf attaches to the stem (the node). Roots grow easiest from this location. If you leave a section of stem below the node, it often rots. Remove the lower leaves but leave the top two or three.
The branch bark ridge is the dark, rough bark ridge that separates the branch from the main branch or trunk. Pruning just beyond the branch collar and branch bark ridge retains the tree's natural defense mechanisms and promotes compartmentalization and callus formation. Do not make flush cuts when pruning trees.
Help slow growth
Summer is a good time to prune if you would like to slow the growth of a tree or branch. Pruning reduces the the total leaf surface, which reduces the amount of food produced and sent to the roots.