Common Pruning Mistakes To Avoid

Improper pruning practices can be harmful to your plant’s health and longevity. It is essential to tackle this challenge with caution and expertise.

Pruning is done on trees and shrubs for a variety of reasons, some of which include but are not limited to the following: size reduction, obstruction removal,  canopy opening, shape enhancement, and the removal of dead or damaged vegetation. It doesn’t matter why you prune-as long as you do it correctly, the tree or shrub will continue to enjoy the same level of robust health and vitality far into the future.

Arborists and aesthetic pruners undergo extensive training to learn about tree and shrubs’ growth patterns and underlying physical structures. After considering the plant’s general shape, they prune away or alter only the branches that threaten its well-being, pose a danger to people or property, or diminish its aesthetic value. 

One of the keys to effective pruning is making as few cuts as necessary to obtain the desired results, as each pruning cut is a wound to the plant. The result is a healthy plant with a beautiful, organic shape. In this guide, we’ll look at and avoid the most typical gardening mistakes.

Improper Pruning Methods

Pruning is a very useful gardening technique when carried out correctly. As a result, trees are more likely to flourish and develop normally. It’s important to remember that not all pruning methods are created equal. Some of the worst types of pruning and the damage they cause to trees are described here.

1. Lopping

Lopping is cutting a branch at a location other than its union or node. Water sprouts, tiny branches that grow upward and receive water and nutrients from the tree, are a common consequence. They are more prone to breaking than the rest of the tree, especially in stormy or icy weather. Trees may become more susceptible to pests and diseases after being lopped.

2. Stub Cutting

When trimmed too deeply, a branch leaves a “stub” that can’t grow back into the stem. When a branch dies, woundwood doesn’t form immediately or at all. The wound remains open, allowing canker fungus and decay organisms to enter the tree. Wood cracking and bark tearing are just two structural damages that branch stubs can cause.

3. Tree Topping

Tree topping is a pruning that reduces a tree’s height or crown width. It is also known as heading, hat-racking, tipping, and rounding over. It entails cutting off a significant piece of the upper part of a tree’s crown. When a branch is pruned back, it becomes a stub or a lateral branch that isn’t strong enough to serve as the terminal. Because it causes trees to distort and destroys their branch structure, topping is typically seen as a bad pruning practice.

When a tree is topped, its leaves are removed, which is one of the worst things that can happen. When a tree is topped, its leafy crown is cut off from half to all. The tree’s inability to photosynthesise adequately due to the loss of growth stunts its progress. Because of this, the tree’s latent buds begin to open. As the buds open, tiny epicormic shoots emerge and form flimsy bonds in the bark’s outer layers. The danger posed by the sprouts increases rapidly as they develop. Because of how easily they shatter, there is a greater chance of limb failure.

Since fewer leaves protect the bark, it can easily burn in the sun. This can cause cankers to form, leading to wood cracking, bark splitting, and, eventually, branch loss. The severe wound makes the tree more susceptible to pests and diseases.

4. Improper Timing

A perfect time of year to prune a tree exists for each species. For instance, spring flowering trees should be ignored until their flowers have faded. Prematurely removing their buds through pruning stunts their development. New growth stimulated by fall pruning is more susceptible to damage from frost in the winter. When certain species are pruned in the winter, they release sap. While this won’t hurt them, it can make a mess that needs cleaning. Pruning a tree at the right time can prevent needless tree damage.

5. Flush Cutting

A flush cut is a method of pruning in which a branch is severed below its collar, typically along a ridge of bark on the tree’s trunk. When branches are pruned this way, the collar where specialised wound-healing cells are found is removed. A callus of healing cells forms around the injury, sealing it from further infection. These cells are lost during a flush cut, leaving the tree open to infection from pests and diseases. The tree’s branch structure is weakened as a result.

6. Excessive Pruning

A tree’s crown should be pruned at most a quarter at a time. When the tree’s canopy is too heavily pruned, the tree’s structure and nourishment suffer. Because of this, the tree is deteriorating and may fall over or lose a limb. Excessive pruning of already stressed trees can make the situation worse.

Pruning Mistakes To Avoid

There are several things to think about when pruning plants. For instance, the method and timing of pruning can vary greatly depending on the plants you’re cultivating and the method you’re employing to cultivate them. 

Therefore, before pruning various plants, you must conduct considerable research. If you don’t, you might have to deal with further issues. If you prune your plants incorrectly, you could stunt their development and reduce the number of flowers and fruit you get.

Here are some things to keep an eye on when you prune:

Pruning Without A Purpose

Pruning should improve the plant’s health and vitality while pursuing a specific aim (such as removing dead limbs or enhancing fruit or blossom production). It suffers unnecessary harm when pruning a tree or shrub without a clear purpose. Extensive incorrect pruning, at best, takes time and effort to cure and, at worst, causes irreparable injury. So, measure twice and cut once!

The Wrong Season For Pruning

Pruning is best done when plants are dormant; thus, winter is a common time to get it done. However, the ideal time to prune varies depending on the plant. For instance, pruning palm and cherry trees in the winter can lead to the spread of silver leaf disease. These trees are cut in the summer to lessen the likelihood of an infection.

Grapevines must be pruned only in December and January, and flowering shrubs should be pruned immediately after they bloom. The plant will bleed sap and weaken if grapevines are cut back while it’s too hot outside. The plant may perish in due time.

Pruning mistakes, including the possible demise of plants, can be avoided by doing homework and determining the optimal time to perform the task.

Using A Single Cut To Remove Huge Branches

When pruning a huge branch, the gardener and the tree must take precautions by making several cuts. If you try to see a large limb free of the tree in one motion, the branch may shift or pivot and then fall back on you. The likelihood of the to-be-pruned branch tearing off neighbouring bark layers and injuring the tree increases when a single cut is used on a large branch.

Use the three-cut procedure if a branch’s diameter is over 2 inches. The initial cut is a shallow undercut roughly 5 inches from the trunk or attached branch. It would be best if you undercut the branch around halfway. The second weight-removal cut is made a few inches past the undercut. The third and last cut gets rid of the remaining stump. The branch collar, the swelling area where the branch joins to the tree, should be the limiting factor in where you cut the stump. Use a 45-degree angle to make the incision. 

Pruning Plants In The Wrong Location

Pruning correctly requires cutting excess branch material from above each node. Shoots and buds sprout from the stem at the node. If you don’t cut back the branch above this one, your plant could “die back.”

If you prune plants above their nodes, you can influence new stem development, blooms, and leaves to sprout in the desired direction. This is accomplished through the use of selective pruning. It is common practice to prune the branches on its periphery to shape the tree. Just above a growth point on the soil line should be where the cut should be made. It would be best to keep no stem stubs or branches. 

The tree’s health and appearance will suffer if it is allowed to lose its original form. When trimming, avoid injuring the node by cutting too closely to it. Leave no more than 1 cm of hair above the nodes, though. Your plant’s form may suffer as a result.

Improper Pruning Cut

When a tree is pruned properly, the wound is small, and the tree recovers rapidly. Permanent harm can be done to a tree by making a flush cut (too near the trunk) or a stub cut (too far from the trunk). A flush cut eliminates the branch collar but leaves a big, non-healing wound on the tree’s side. When a branch is chopped off too short, rot can travel back through the root collar and into the tree’s trunk. Both of these severe wounds cause rot, which can be fatal.

Pruning In A Rush

It takes time to prune with skill. Pruning is not a task to be rushed. Either you’ll make cuts that take years to undo, or you won’t make the cuts you need to fix a systemic issue in time. 

Cut the fat first. Take out any rotten, infected, or broken boards. Take down any branches that are touching, rubbing, or intertwining. Then, take a step back and survey the plant from every angle. Cut back the plant by cutting off its lower branches. If you’re doing tree pruning, look for branches joined to the trunk at a sharp angle and cut them off. Take care not to cut off more than a third of the total bulk of the plant. 

Plant Pruning At The Improper Angle

When you prune your plants, prune at a downward angle. As a result, the trimmed region loses less moisture. In most cases, a 45-degree angle is a good starting point for plant pruning.

The water will pool if you make a flat cut in your plant. Plants are more susceptible to fungal infections when water collects at the site of a wound. Your plants will be extremely susceptible to fungal infection as a result.

Pruning At Any Time Of The Year

Over-pruning can cause stress on a tree and make it more prone to disease at any time of year, but it is most harmful during the growing season. Remember that each pruning cut is a wound to the tree and should be treated as such. The tree’s photosynthetic capacity is diminished, its stored resources are depleted, and its future growth is impeded when pruning branches. Even worse, when you prune a tree, you leave wounds that wood-rotting fungus can use to invade and rot the tree from the inside out. A tree can be killed by making bad pruning cuts too many times.

Canker Not Being Pruned Out

Canker is a bacterial illness that spreads through the air and can potentially infect your plants. Injured wood is the entry point for this bacteria to infect trees in the Prunus genus.

If you notice any symptoms of this problem, you should prune your plants immediately. It will aid in keeping your plants healthy and flourishing for a longer period. The plant’s lifespan may be cut short if care is neglected.

Eliminating Too Much Growth At Once

It’s tempting to attempt a radical revamp of an extremely overgrown tree or shrub in a single cutting session. Too much growth is often cut off at once to get the plant back into shape, blend in with the surroundings, and get the job done. The plant’s stem, roots, and branches are all supported by this lush, green vegetation. The plant as a whole suffers when its food-producing green growth is severely stunted. A plant can be killed by excessive trimming.

The best practice is to never prune more than one-third of a tree or shrub’s mass in a single growth season. Plants with extreme overgrowth should be pruned over three years. 

Avoiding The Removal Of “Suckers”

The roots of many plants and shrubs send out shoots known as sucker growths. The plants become unwieldy and top-heavy as a result of these suckers.

More fruit is produced by these plants thanks to their suckers. But those “suckers” must battle for nutrition with the young plant stems. As a result, the plants will provide inferior fruit and be more difficult to support.

Removing these suckers causes the plants to become more compact, allowing for the production of larger fruits. But the plants will bear fewer fruits as the season progresses. Therefore, for your plants to bear larger fruits, remain compact, and yield adequate fruit throughout the season, you will need to prune a certain number of suckers from each plant.

Using Dirty Pruning Equipment

It’s important to use high-quality tools during pruning. You should always maintain your pruning tools with soap and oil. Pruning shears that are regularly oiled and sharpened outperform their dull and rusty counterparts and are safer to use. A clean cut cannot be made with a blunt instrument. Cuts that aren’t clean will make your plant more susceptible to illness and lengthen its repair time. 

Alcohol can be used to sterilise your pruning shears. Your pruning tools can be kept clean and germ-free with any household disinfectant, such as rubbing alcohol. You can disinfect your pruning tools with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.

Alcohol can help disinfect tools without requiring prolonged soaking. Disinfecting instruments requires a quick dip or wipe with some alcohol. After each usage, thoroughly clean and disinfect your pruning instruments. Otherwise, you risk infecting your plants with the illness when you prune them.

Plant Topping To Reduce Height

Topping is never the right decision when pruning trees and should be avoided whenever possible when pruning large shrubs. When huge branches are pruned without regard for where the cuts will be made, several new stems grow from buds at the tree’s base. The new growth usually needs to be better secured to the tree, presenting a threat as the branches become larger and more easily broken off. 

Reduce the size of a tree or shrub by cutting its branches to the next lower limb in the case of trees or to the ground in the case of shrubs. To prune a tree, you can also cut back a long branch to a lateral branch that is one-third as wide as the one you’re cutting. This side shoot quickly matures to take the place of the severed limb.

Conclusion

Pruning plants the wrong way can hurt their health and shorten their life, so it’s important to be careful and know what you’re doing. Pruning trees and bushes is done for many reasons, such as to reduce their size, get rid of obstacles, open up their canopy, improve their shape, and get rid of dead or damaged plants. Professional arborists and aesthetic pruners go through a lot of training to learn about how trees and shrubs grow and how they are put together. They focus on cutting off parts that are unhealthy, dangerous, or ugly.

As few cuts as possible are needed to get the job done, since each cut hurts the plant. Some common trimming mistakes are loping, stub cutting, tree topping, pruning at the wrong time, flush cutting, and pruning too much. When you lop, you cut a branch somewhere other than its union or node. This makes water shoots, which are more likely to break and are easier for pests and diseases to get into. When you stub cut, you leave a “stub” that can’t grow back into the stem. This lets the canker fungus and other rot organisms into the tree, which damages the wood and bark. When you top a tree, you cut down on its height or crown width, which damages and destroys the structure of its branches. The tree can also be hurt by trimming and planting at the wrong time.

To avoid mistakes and make sure plants grow at their best, pruning them needs to be carefully planned and researched. People often make mistakes when they prune, like pruning without a clear goal, pruning in the wrong season, pruning big branches with one cut, pruning plants in the wrong place, and making bad pruning cuts.

Plants should be pruned when they are dormant, like in the winter, and at the right time of year. When cutting big branches, don’t make just one cut. Instead, make three cuts on stems over 2 inches long, and don’t cut too close to the node.

When you prune a tree wrong, you can hurt it permanently, which can cause it to rot and die. It is important to trim carefully and not rush the process. To begin, cut off the fat and remove any boards that are rotten, infected, or broken, as well as any branches that are meeting, rubbing, or wrapping around each other. Cut off branches that are joined to the tree if you prune at a sharp angle.

Pruning plants properly requires study, careful planning, and the right way to prune to make sure they grow and stay healthy. Should you not avoid these mistakes, plants could die or have their health and look harmed. If you prune plants at the wrong angle, you could hurt the tree and give it fungal diseases. When you prune, a 45-degree slope is a good place to start because flat cuts can make water pool and make plants more likely to die. When plants are growing, over-pruning can lead to stress and disease. Canker is caused by germs and can be passed from person to person or from plant to plant. It is important to cut plants right away if they show signs of illness because not taking care of them can shorten their life.

If you prune too much, the plant may not grow properly, which can be fatal. Never cut down more than a third of a tree’s mass in a single growing season. To keep this from happening, cut back a set number of buds on each plant.

When you prune, use good tools like shears that have been oiled and polished, and clean them with alcohol or isopropyl alcohol after each use. If you want to lower the height of your tree, don’t plant topping. This can cause new stems to grow from buds at the base of the tree, which makes the branches more likely to get sick. Instead, cut stems back to the ground or the next lower branch. You can also cut back a long branch to a side branch that is one-third as wide as the one you’re cutting.

Content Summary

• Discover common pruning mistakes to enhance plant health.
• Importance of correct pruning for tree and shrub longevity.
• Reasons for pruning include size reduction and dead vegetation removal.
• Arborists undergo training to understand tree growth patterns.
• Effective pruning requires minimal cuts for optimal results.
• Avoid damaging your trees with improper pruning methods.
• Lopping leads to weak branches that are more prone to breaking.
• Avoid stub cutting to prevent open wounds and potential infections.
• Tree topping distorts natural branch structure.
• Topped trees struggle with photosynthesis, stunting growth.
• Pruning at the wrong time can lead to tree damage.
• Flush cutting weakens tree structure and opens it to infection.
• Over-pruning can lead to a tree’s deterioration.
• Ensure purposeful pruning to avoid unnecessary plant damage.
• Winter pruning may lead to the spread of diseases in certain trees.
• Grapevines should be pruned in December and January.
• Multiple cuts are essential when pruning large branches.
• Always prune above plant nodes for proper growth direction.
• Avoid improper cuts that can lead to permanent tree damage.
• Patience is key: never rush the pruning process.
• Prune at a downward angle to minimise moisture loss.
• Over-pruning during growing seasons harms tree health.
• Address canker infections promptly through pruning.
• Avoid excessive trimming that may kill the plant.
• Regularly remove suckers to produce larger fruits.
• Clean and sharpen pruning equipment for best results.
• Sterilise pruning tools with alcohol to prevent plant infections.
• Avoid tree topping to maintain natural growth patterns.
• Recognise the harm caused by incorrect pruning methods.
• Regular pruning promotes robust health and vitality.
• Ensure accurate cuts for a tree’s long-term well-being.
• Ensure you’re pruning for a purpose to prevent plant harm.
• Understand the right pruning season for each plant species.
• Employ the three-cut procedure for large branches.
• Ensure precise branch cutting for a tree’s optimal appearance.
• Recognise the dangers of flush and stub cuts.
• Allocate time to assess a plant before extensive pruning.
• Correct pruning angle minimises fungal infections.
• Address over-pruning issues to prevent internal tree rot.
• Timely canker removal ensures a longer plant lifespan.
• Tackle extreme plant overgrowth across multiple seasons.
• Sucker removal helps in maintaining fruit size and yield.
• Dirty pruning tools increase susceptibility to plant diseases.
• Clean tools with alcohol for effective disinfection.
• Plant topping can lead to weak branch attachments.
• Prioritise your tree’s health with proper pruning practices.
• Reduce the risk of fungal infections with angled pruning.
• Ensure regular equipment maintenance for safe pruning.
• Take care with topping to avoid future growth issues.
• Be cautious and informed for successful plant pruning.

FAQs About Pruning

Can I Prune In The Winter?

Yes, pruning in the winter is a common practice among gardeners. When plants are dormant, this season provides an ideal opportunity to trim and shape deciduous trees and shrubs. Pruning during this period minimises plant stress, as they are not actively growing or flowering. However, it’s important to note that not all plants should be pruned in winter. 

Can I Prune A Flowering Plant During Its Blooming Season?

While it is possible to prune a flowering plant during its blooming season, it’s generally best to wait until after the flowering. This allows the plant to complete its natural bloom cycle and ensures you won’t accidentally remove buds or blossoms. Pruning during the flowering season may disrupt the plant’s ability to produce new blooms, potentially leading to fewer flowers in the current season. 

How Do I Encourage New Growth After Pruning?

Encouraging new growth after pruning is a vital aspect of maintaining healthy plants. Here are some steps you can take:

• Provide Adequate Watering: Ensure the plant receives sufficient water, especially in the weeks following pruning. This helps to support the development of new growth.
• Apply Balanced Fertiliser: A balanced fertiliser with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can provide the essential nutrients for vigorous regrowth.
• Offer Adequate Sunlight: Position the plant in an area where it receives the appropriate sunlight for its species. Most plants require full sun, but some may thrive in partial shade.
• Prune Strategically: Remove dead or diseased branches and any crossing or crowded growth when pruning. This allows for better air circulation and light penetration, stimulating new growth.
• Trim at the Right Time: Timing is crucial. Prune during the plant’s active growing season, typically in spring or early summer, to encourage robust new growth.
• Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Regularly inspect the plant for signs of pests or diseases and take prompt action if any are detected. Healthy plants are better equipped to produce new growth.
• Mulch Around the Base: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant. This helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and provide nutrients to support new growth.

Can I Use Household Scissors For Pruning?

Using household scissors for pruning is not recommended. They are designed for lighter tasks like cutting paper and may not provide clean, effective cuts on plants. Pruning shears or specialised gardening tools are better suited for this job, ensuring proper cuts and reducing the risk of plant damage.

How Often Should I Prune My Plants?

The frequency of pruning depends on the type of plant. Some plants require regular pruning, while others may only need occasional maintenance. It’s important to research the specific needs of each plant in your garden.