How to Prune Native Plants without killing them General Pruning Tips.

Major pruning of these plants occurs in the summer. However, pruning native plants can vary depending upon the characteristics of the plant that the gardener wants to promote. WHAT to Prune.

Some native plants are prized for their flowers, some for their fruit, some for their leaf color and texture, and some for their branch structure. Mar 21, HARD PRUNING. Pruning back by half or to the ground might seem a bit drastic, but many of our native plants have adapted to regrow after.

Prune to promote plant health Remove dead or dying branches injured by disease, severe insect infestation, animals, storms, or other adverse mechanical damage. Remove branches that rub together. Remove branch stubs Avoid topping trees. Removing large branches leaves stubs that can cause several health problems. Prune a little more than just the dead portions, up to 30% of the plant/year is Ok. (We feel that palms may be pruned to the ground every year until they don't come back.) Some of the genera like Quercus, Umbellularia, and Arctostaphylos are slow to recover from a bad hair cut.

Start from the bottom and prune up. Never top-prune a tree. Top-pruning a tree turns it into a damaged shrub. MAKE A CLOSE, CLEAN CUT. Start with small branches (5/8 inch or less) and use hand pruning shears.

Cut as close as you can to the branch you want to keep, leaving the branch collar (a raised section of bark on the underside of the branch) intact. The object of pruning is to remove a branch but not cut so much off that it leaves a big wound.

If you cut along the red line (cut the branch off smooth with the trunk) a large wound is left for the tree to heal. Pruning along the green line leaves a “bump” but this smaller wound will heal more quickly and be less prone to disease.

Pruning Native Trees and Shrubs. Map Unavailable. Date/Time Date(s) - Wed Sep 15, pm. Categories. Online Event; Dr. Robert Schutzki, MSU, will offer instructions on pruning tips and techniques to refresh and maintain the shrubs and trees in our yards. Knowing how and when to prune is essential for plant beauty and health. Dec 18, As a rule of thumb, prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees immediately after the flowers fade.

Prune summer-blooming trees and shrubs in winter or early spring, before new growth emerges. In regions that have harsh winters, late-summer pruning encourages new growth that might not harden before the cold settles stumpcutting.barted Reading Time: 10 mins.