Pruning Ornamental Plants

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Pruning Ornamental Plants

• By Johnny M. Jessup
• Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor

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Principles of Pruning

• Shrubs that produce flowers on wood grown the
  previous season should be pruned immediately
  after flowers fall off.
• Examples include early spring flowers like.
• Forsythia
• Azaleas
• Spirea

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Early Spring Flowers
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Principles of Pruning

• Shrubs that bloom on current years growth should
  be pruned in the fall or early spring.
• Example
• Roses

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Principles of Pruning

• Some shrubs require annual pruning to thin out
  old, dead wood like.
• Hydrangea
• Spirea

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Principles of Pruning

• Some suckers or shoots from plant roots should be
  removed to keep plant from becoming too thick.

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Methods of Pruning

• Thinning
• Removal of certain branches to open up the plant
  and keep the natural shape.

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Methods of Pruning

• Heading Back
• Removes the end section of branches at the same
  height so that new shoots make the plant thicker.

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Methods of Pruning

• Renewal Pruning
• Removes old branches that are large and
  unproductive by cutting them back to ground
  level.
• Usually effective on flowering shrubs.

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Methods of Pruning

• Root Pruning
• Usually done one growing season prior to
  transplanting.
• General Rule is.
• One inch of stem diameter equals 10 of circle
  diameter for pruning roots around plant.

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Pruning Tools Supplies
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Tool Care

• Keep sharp clean.
• Keep handles and bolt nuts secure tight.
• These practices will increase safety.

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Pruning Saw

• Has a blade with coarse teeth.
• Blade may or may not fold into the handle for
  safety storage.
• Cuts live dead limbs.

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Pole Pruner

• Has a saw pruning tool on a pole to remove
  branches that are up to 12 feet overhead.

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Grass Shears

• Have two blades designed to cut grass around
  edges of walks or flower beds.

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Lopping Shears

• Have long handles and will cut limbs from 1 to
  1½ in diameter.

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Hand or Pruning Shears

• Have a single blade that cuts against another
  piece of metal or two blades that work like
  scissor to cut limbs up to ½ in diameter.

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Hedge Shears

• Have longer blades that cut young tender growth.

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Chain Saw

• Has a gasoline, battery, or electrical powered
  chain that cuts large limbs from 3 up to the
  blade length.

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Power Pole Pruner

• Has a power saw on the end of an extended handle.

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Safety Tip

• Use caution with cutting tools.
• If they will cut plants, they can cut you

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Designed By

• Johnny M. Jessup FFA Advisor
• Hobbton High School