Pruning is generally a topic of conversation I receive year round, regardless of season. Seems like everybody has a pruning question, generally when the weather changes or a change in the season.
A retired agricultural agent once told me many years ago when I first began my career to “keep a pair of pruners in your pocket because there is always something in your yard to prune.” Pruning is a constant chore that should be done on a regular basis.
August is really not the time to do major pruning of trees and shrubs, but you may prune out dead branches and make some minor cosmetic cuts. Damaged or dead branches need to be removed immediately to prevent further damage or insect infestation.
Trees with lower limbs impeding mowing and other maintenance chores can also be done now. Many ask about using pruning paint for exposed cuts. Pruning paint is really of no benefit. Some studies have suggested that it may cause problems later with fungus growing behind the paint.
Warm, rainy conditions experienced over the past few weeks caused many trees and shrubs to send up water sprouts or excessive growth. Crape myrtles are a good example of a plant that constantly sends up water sprouts that should be removed with no adverse problems to the tree.
So if you want to remove water sprouts or keep them in check, it’s OK, but severe pruning of hollies and other shrubs should be done in early spring.
Severe pruning in the fall yields an unsightly mass of sawed off stubs throughout the winter. Also, winter damage is quite possible from an unseasonable week of warm weather that is immediately followed by a cold freeze.
Extreme pruning of crape myrtles now and into the fall often results in winter damage or poor bloom set. Azaleas and other spring blooming ornamentals set their blooms in late summer. Pruning these now eliminates much if not all of the spring flowers.
Upright shrubs such as Nellie R. Stevens and Fosters No. 2 hollies need constant pruning throughout the summer months. The terminals should be tip-pruned to increase branching density and prevent them from becoming leggy.
There are some exceptions with some plants. Birch and maple trees need to be pruned in early fall with leaves remaining on the tree. These trees bleed excessively if pruned in the early spring.
Pruning can be a very simple task of removing water sprouts from holly or very complicated with bonsai, requiring hours of deliberation. More complete information about pruning can be found on the Web at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/text/pruning.html
Darrell Blackwelder is an extension agent in horticulture with the Rowan County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension. Call 704-216-8970.
http://www.rowanmastergardener.com
http://rowan.ces.ncsu.edu