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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 45tM Lawn and Garden Power Equipment v, *Gorden Tractors *Rear Tine Roto Tillers oRotor Tillers *Lawn Mowers SEE US for the BEST in SATELLITE TV SYSTEMS H. LOBB & SONS LTD. 48203409 featuring such Top Mfg. as... *Channel Master AND •General Instruments ...plus others! ALVI N'S TV SALES & SERVICE 162 MARY STREET GODERICH 5249089 "Give us a call... We'll give you a great reception." CgO`OFFWITH AHOTIDEA. UMP THE REMARKABLEHEAT4A Air conditioning that saves you money. What does central air conditioning have to do with lower heating bills? A lot...if your central air conditioner is a heat pump. That's right! A heat pump is central air conditioner and dehumidifier as well as a heating system. And not any heating system. Added to a standard - efficiency gas or oil fumace, the heat pump's super efficiency will loafer your heating bills. So if you're thinking about central air this summer, why not check out central air that cuts your heating bills, too? 5Onriltionpeoplefake comfort in u.- 100 BONUS If you add a heat pumpto your oil or gas furnace, you automatically qualify fr $100 or more. EnerMa, k(l( LOAN PLAN FINANCED BY THE `mss ROYAL BANK At interest rates below prime. WISE ENERGY CENTRE -- - aro se 262 BAYFIELD ROAD, CLINTON 482-7062 Prdper pruning is good for trees Proper pruning can be the best thing for your trees and shrubs; improper pruning t can be the worst thing for them. "Pruning is both an art and a science," says Horticulturist Ruth Friendship of the t Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural organizations and services branch. The "artist" in you will, prune to retain or restore the natural form off the plant. The "scientist" in you will prune to remove dead and/or diseased branches, stimulate flower and fruit development, control the plant's overall size, and to im- prove the plant's structural strength, health and vigor. There is no ideal time to'prune all plants. "The correct time to prune depends on the flowering season of the species, its growth habit and your specific reason for pruning," she says. Generally, late winter or early spring is the best time to prune deciduous 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. At these times, there is also less danger of damaging the bark. Fruit -bearing trees should be pruned just after they have leafed out. On the other hand, spring flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia should be prun- ed after flowering. (This is because these plants produce their flower buds 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 pro- duce flower buds for next year. Shrubs that flower on the current year's wood, such as hydrangea, should be pruned before they flower. .. Late fall to early winter is the poorest time to prune because the wounds may not close during the winter months. Winter pruning is also uncomfortable for you — so you are less likely to take the time to prune with care. Trees that "bleed" profusely such as maple, birch, walnut, and yellow -woods should only be pruned when they are in full leaf because the leaves will be using the sap — thereby reducing the "bleeding" and pro- moting rapid healing. • Pruning while the trees are in leaf also makes it easier to see which branches are dead or lacking vigor. But avoid pruning in late summer because this could stimulate growth which won't be able to "harden off" before the cold winter temperatures strike. As, with any gardening task, it is -impor- tant to use suitable tools and equipment. Special equipment and expertise are needed to prune large trees so you might be wise to hire a professional. for these large jobs: But small trees can easily be pruned. A sharp, properly set saw is required for the larger cuts and will do a better job for any size of cut than even the best pruning shears. A pruning saw should be used wherever possible. . Hand pruners should be light, ;sharp, pro- perly set and of good quality. Long -handled pruners can speed a prun- ng job but they tend to leaye stubs so use. hese selectively. "The choice of tool is a matter of personal preference, but remember to keep your ools sharp and properly adjusted to make clean, flush cuts," she says. Pruning paint, which was once a common recommendation, has been found to be of no benefit to the process of wound closure. Therefore it is not necessary to use prun- ing paint — except for cosmetic reasons. If you do decide' to paint the wound, use a thin coat of some commercial material prepared for this purpose. Do not use house paints. Apply the 'wound paint only to the wound; painting the bark all around the trunk can • kill the tree. All pruning cuts must be made so natural processes will heal the cut surfaces com- pletely and not contribute to the death of the bud immediately below the cut. " There is a siigitl,iy-raised nage of .bark on a branch called the branch collar which is the tissue separating the branch from the main stem. This can be used as your guide to proper pruning," she says. Place your saw or shears in front of the ridge and cut downward and slightly outward. This results in removal of the branch without injury to the main stem. By leaving the "collar", there is less chance of infection. "Flush cutting" or cutting through the branch collar makes a larger wound than neccessaryand slows down wound closure. This type of cut often results when chain saws are used for pruning. Prune deciduous trees to have a more or less "open" centre. Branches that grow inwards and those that are in. contact — rubbing and wearing each other — should be removed. This allows the tree to grow to the outside and upwards, where it will be exposed to the maximum amount of light. Remove watersprouts and suckers to en- courage the growth outward and upwards. Always consider the manner of growth and climatic conditions for best pruning results. Because few evergreens produce new buds on wood more than two years old, prune evergreens mainly on new wood or on the previous year's wood, early in the grow- ing season up to midsummer. Allow enough time for the new growth to "harden' off" before winter sets in. Spruce, pine and fir should be pruned shortly after the new growth has begun in the spring. And rests ict your pruning to the _ new growth only. Prune junipers by cutting back the branch to a healthy lateral branch. Pyramidal or central trunk evergreen trees should be pruned only to remove dead or overlapping branches. Trees with double leader branches should be pruned to one terminal leader, while the tree is young. Do not prune the terminal leader of an evergreen tree"unless the leader has been damaged. (If it must be removed, it should be replaced by a lateral trained to grow upwards) .