Pruning Pointers

Sharpen the pruners, lubricate the lopers and fire up the chainsaw. It’s pruning time again, says USU Extension Horticulturalist Jerry Goodspeed. While many people worry that pruning will harm a plant, Goodspeed says that most pruning cuts stimulate growth. Pruning is simply a matter of removing problematic branches or shaping the plant. Whenever a cut is made, it tells the plant to grow somewhere else or in another direction. When pruning a tree, never prune the top, Goodspeed says. Rather, look at the tree and locate branches that are too tall and remove them to achieve the desired height.

For more information, contact USU Extension Horticulturalist Jerry Goodspeed [jerryg@ext.usu.edu], 801-392-8908.