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The Citizen, 1987-05-13, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1987. PAGE 13. =Green Thumbin’= Proper pruning is both an art and a science ’* r u “Pruning is both an art and a science,’’ says Horticulturist Ruth Friendship of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s rural organizationsand services branch. The “artist” in you will prune to retain or restore the natural form of the plant. The “scientist” in you will prune to remove dead and/or diseased branches, stimulate flow­ er and fruit development, control the plant’s overall size, and to improve the plant’s structural strength, health and vigor. There is no ideal time to prune all plants. “The correct time to prune de­ pends on the flowering season of the species, its growth habit and your specific reason for pruning,” she says. Generally, late winter or early spring when there is less danger of bark damage, is the best time to prune decidious trees, some vines, roses and certain shrubs; at these times of the year the plants have no leaves and that makes it easier to decide where to prune. Late fall to early winter is the poorest time to prune because the wounds may not close during the winter months. Fruit-bearing trees should be pruned just after they have leafed out. Trees that “bleed” profusely such as maple, birch, walnut, and yellow-woods should only be prun­ ed when they are in full leaf because the leaves will be using the sap - thereby reducing the “bleed­ ing” and promoting rapid healing. Pruning while the trees are in leaf alsomakes iteasiertosee which branches are dead or lacking vigor. Shrubs thatflower on the current year’s wood, such as hydrangea, should be pruned before they flower. On the other hand, spring flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia should be pruned after flowering. (This is because these plants produce their flower bunds on the growth of the previous season). By pruning at this time, you won’t destroy prospective blooms and it allows the plant sufficient time and space to grow and produce flower buds for next year. But avoid pruning in late summer because this could stimu­ late growth which won’t be able to “harden off’’ before the cold winter temperatures strike. As with any gardening task, it is important to use suitable tools and equipment. A sharp, properly set pruning saw is required for the larger cuts and will do a better job for any size of cut than even the best pruning shears. Pruning paint, which was once a common recommendation, has been found to be of no benefit to the process of wood closure. If used, wound paint should be applied only to the wound; painting the bark all around the trunk can kill the tree. Do not use house paints. Special equipment and expertise are need­ ed to pru ne large trees so you might be wise to hire a professional for these large jobs. All pruning cuts must be made so natural processes will heal the cutsurfacescompletely and not contribute to the death of the bud immediately below the cut. “There is a slightly-raised ridge of bark on a branch called the branch collar which is the tissue separating the branch from the main stem. Place your saw or shears in front of the ridge and cut downward and slightly outward. This can be used as your guide to proper pruning,” she says. Hedges ‘living fences' You might call a hedge a “living fence.” Whilea “livingfence” never needs painting, it does require special care. As it grows, your hedge will need watering, pruning and fertilizing to keep it healthy and green year after year. A hedge can be made up of a closely planted row of deciduous or evergreen shrubs, small trees or even annual flowers. Some hedges grow to a height of only 15 centimeters, while others can grow to 304 cm. or more in height. When selecting shrubs and small trees, consider the size of your yard and the hedge’s height at maturity, says Master Gardener Andy Langis of Sarnia, one of several gardening enthusiasts a- cross the province who has receiv- edformal horticultural training through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Master Gardener program. it is also important to select a hedge that is hardy enough to survive in your area. Check with your garden centre for hardiness information. Prepare your soil about four weeks before planting. Making a trench about 60 cm. deep and 45 cm. to 91 cm. wide (depending on the size of the plant material and its height). Toensure good drainage, add 15 cm. to 20 cm. of gravel in the bottom of the trench. If the soil is rich, add a 10-6-4 fertilizer at a rate of one kilogram per 10 square metres. Ifthesoillacksnutrients, add compost and humus plus a 10-6-4 fertilizer, and water well. Now, choose plants that are well branched at the base and about two-to-three-years-old (for a deci­ duous hedge) and three-to-five- years-old (for evergreens). Check the plants when you return home and if some of them look dry, put them in water for about one hour and then plant immediately. Plant the shrubs or trees about two cm. deeper than in the original container. Jiggle the plants to settle the soil around the roo,ts of the plant and continue filling in the trench. Water well. Now, prune the newly-set plant by about one-third. Prune new conifers only by nipping new growth in half. Prune broad-leafed evergreens as you would deciduous material. but more lightly. Prune broad-leafed evergreens again in the second and in the third year until your hedge has reached the desired height. Whenpruning, makesurethe top is narrower than the base so that the sunlight reaches all parts of the plant. Think ahead when you plant trees When planning your landscape, take a moment to visualize your little nursery stock as a mature tree. It looks small now, but when fully grown, it could end up touching power lines. A tree growing into hydro lines could cause power blackouts. That’s inconvenient for everyone affected! Or, adventurous children may climb or be tempted to build a tree house in it. And, that’s very dangerous. They could come too close to or even touch a wire. If trees do grow into power lines, hydro crews may have to trim them justwhen they’re beginning to look their best. 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