How to Prune Flowering Trees
Learning how to prune flowering trees is an easy task. The most important aspect when dealing with flowering tree varieties is when to prune. Pruning some trees at the wrong time of year cuts the new flower buds off before they have a chance to bloom during the spring. The majority of the time pruning is necessary to reshape a tree and to remove dead or diseased growth.
Clean any pruning tools you plan to use before you start your pruning project. Diseases left on the tools from a previous pruning can transmit to the new tree you are about to work on via the pruning blades. A simple mixture of nine parts water and one part of rubbing alcohol is all you need to adequately clean the blades.
Decide when your flowering tree will put on the new buds. If your tree flowers each spring, then it can be pruned right after it has finished its blooming cycle without risking new flower buds. Trees that bloom in the summer time and fall, should be pruned right after their blooming cycle, which would be late winter when they go dormant.
Determine when a tree needs pruning. If there are dead branches, crossed branches, dying or diseased branches, suckers or it needs shaping, consider pruning. Make cuts even and as close to the tree as possible. Ragged cuts often do not heal as well as flush cuts.
Prune young trees while the branches are still supple and easier to clip. Young trees may need reshaping periodically as they get growth spurts. Crossed branches and diseased areas should be cut out in addition to shaping work.
Cut out old growth before the season's flower buds develop. Older growth is most often cut to remove broken limbs or diseased sections. You may need a good saw to cut older established branches. Take your time and be careful.
- Eliminate dead, dying and diseased branches from any age of tree. Dead limbs can become a hazard, especially in high winds where they can become flying debris. Diseased branches can continue to spread and infect the remainder of the tree if not removed. Dying branches waste the resources of the tree trying to keep it alive and the tree is better off when they are removed. Suckers at the base of a tree should be pruned unless you want to turn your tree into a bush.