Flower care

Reasons to Prune Pruning is necessary to maintain a healthy, vigorous tree or shrub. Specifically, pruning is practiced to: Maintain or reduce plant size. Pruning can prevent a plant from overgrowing its space in the landscape and eliminates the need for drastic cutting of crowded, overgrown plants. It can allow for growth of plants under or adjacent to the pruned plant. It can also serve to reduce leaf area on newly planted trees and shrubs. This promotes survival through transplanting and consequent root loss. Remove undesirable growth. Pruning can encourage plant vigor through the removal of weak, overcrowded growth. Such thinning often improves the visual balance or symmetry of the plant. Remove dead, diseased, or broken branches. Pruning will aid in maintaining the shape, vigor, and health of the plant. Stimulate flowering and fruiting. Removal of the current year’s old, faded flowers and fruit clusters will promote flower buds for the following season. Rejuvenate and restore old plants to vigorous growth. Proper pruning can restore a youthful, natural growth habit in certain overgrown shrubs. Prevent damage to life and property. Pruning can minimize the hazard of limbs interfering with power lines or overgrowing structures. It can also remove weak crotches before limbs break in strong winds and open blocked sight lines caused by overhanging limbs at driveways or street corners. Shape plants in an artificial form. Pruning and shearing can be used to shape plants as hedges or for rigidly formal espaliers or topiaries