To prune or not to prune? This is a question that faces gardeners often. Most feel they ought to, but are not sure why or how. Pruning is an art, a science and a skill.

There are four primary objectives for pruning: improving plant appearance, directing growth, to maintain or promote plant health, and to increase or influence fruit or flower production. For this reason it is necessary before one even picks up the pruning shears to determine why pruning is necessary.

Trees and shrubs do not need to be cut back just because it’s "the pruning season." In the worst case scenario, continual pruning to keep a plant in bounds usually means that a plant was placed in the wrong location. Knowing the growth pattern of a plant (the mature size) will ensure planting the right plant in the right place and aid in training the plant towards its natural form. For successful pruning to occur, it is essential to understand the growth habits and horticulture of each plant species. Roses are pruned differently from fruit trees; fruit trees are pruned differently from shrubs and shade trees, and then there are vines, brambles, and hedges.

Improving plant appearance consists of pruning any broken, crossing, and diseased wood. This type of pruning does not stimulate excessive new top growth or change the natural appearance or growth habit.

When a pruning cut or the tip of a stem is pinched off, the resulting effect is growth is stopped in one direction and grows in another. This is referred to as directing the growth and is used to encourage a plant to assume a desirable shape or form.

Maintaining and promoting plant health is the most common pruning technique practiced. This type of pruning consists of the thinning of dead, damaged or diseased wood – which can be the entry point or build-up chamber for insects or diseases, spreading to other parts of the plant or nearby plants, and crossing, rubbing and suckering branches. Removing dense growth in the interior of the plant will prevent damage from strong winds that occur in our High Desert region.

Roses and orchard fruit are usually pruned in ways to induce fruit or flower production.

The two basic pruning cuts are thinning and heading, including shearing and pinching. Thinning involves removing the entire stem or branch back to the point origin or to a junction with another branch. Heading is the removal of just part of a branch or stem. Shearing is clipping the outer foliage to create an even surface and is utilized on hedges. Pinching is nipping off the tips of new growth which stimulates branching. This technique is often used on annuals and perennials to encourage more flowers and overall plant bushiness.

When pruning, a few basic sanitary practices should be followed. Always prune with sharp tools as this will ensure a clean pruning cut. Ragged cuts could be an entry point for infection. Studies show it is no longer necessary to apply wound paint to most cuts, in fact they could hinder the healing process. Disinfect pruning tools with a bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part bleach) in between each cut if possible and always between pruning each plant. This will lessen the possibility of spreading diseases from one plant to another.

Feature article for the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review
Sunday, February, 1999