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The Tucson Gardener |
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In the Garden Calendar
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Pruning Tips Improve structure to ensure strong sturdy growth and prevent future damage to the plant, nearby structures or people. To shape the plant such as a hedge or producing topiary. To encourage the plant's flowering or fruiting. Know the Type of Pruning You Plan to Do and Why Thinning - selective removal of small and large branches. Pinching - removing the tips of plant shoots and stems to encourage growth or direct growth in a particular direction. Heading Back - severe pruning to encourage growth below the cuts. Shearing - get out those electric or gas pruning shears to maintain the shape of a plant.
Know Your Tools Hedge Shears - large wood handles and long cutting scissor-like blade for trimming hedges. Powered versions, both gas and electric are available. Pruning Shears - all around useful pruning equipment available in a variety of sizes and configurations, e.g. anvil, curbed bypass, straight bypass. Useful for the selective pruning of smaller stems and branches. Lopper - long handles of wood, metal or fiberglass for getting leverage when cutting larger branches. Both bypass and anvil blades available. The bypass let you get closer to the trunks for cleaner cuts. Saws - a variety of saws are useful in tree pruning where large branches are removed. The handy folding pruning saw with the curved blade lets you get in close for clean cuts. The bow saw with the long blade makes short work of large limbs. Pole pruner - this useful tool lets you get high up using a telescoping pole. On the end is a curved lopper operated by a long cord. Usually there is also a curved pruning saw attached to the pole providing a choice of tools. Well oiled and sharpened tools make for easier use and better cuts. If you're pruning different trees and plants consider dipping the cutting edge of the pruning equipment into a mild bleach solution to help prevent the transmission of diseases between species.
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