By Theresa Schrum
Eco-Terra Landscape Consultants
This was a Southern Magnolia, and now it’s a totem pole.
Plants have existed for millions of years, and man has been around for less than 100,000 years. Prior to our arrival and the domestication of plants, pruning was never done. Therefore, pruning is a human activity that is done primarily for our needs and not necessarily for those of the plant. I envision the first active pruning being that of a caveman pulling a dead limb from a tree for firewood. For the most part, plants don’t need pruning. They can shed problem parts very well on their own. However, since the questions surrounding pruning can be challenging and usually make up nearly half of the questions sent to us, I will cover the basics here by plant group: herbaceous (perennials and annuals), shrubs, trees, and conifers as a separate group.
There are dozens of websites and books dedicated to proper pruning practices. In order to keep this article in check, links will be provided where necessary.
BASIC GUIDELINES
There are two guidelines that supersede the more specific guidelines below.
First, always use the correct tool for the job: hand pruners, loppers, pole saws, hand saws, or chainsaws. Make sure the tool is sharp and in proper working condition and that you know how to use it correctly.
Second, you can prune at any time of year those parts of a plant that I call the four D’s: Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Damaged.
