Sanitary pruning of trees and shrubs before winter - 5 Important Rules

On the eve of winter, all trees and shrubs need increased attention to themselves. So that they can painlessly survive the upcoming cold weather, it is necessary to prepare them in a certain way.

One of the essential points in this matter is sanitary pruning. Unfortunately, many gardeners, especially beginners, make a lot of mistakes when performing this manipulation, which negatively affects the condition of the trees.

To avoid this, I will tell you about the five most important rules for pruning trees and shrubs. If you stick to them, then there can be no mistakes!

Rule # 1 Preparation of tools

When pruning garden trees, you will inevitably need gardening tools such as pruners and loppers. It is important that they are as sharp as possible.

Before carrying out manipulation, in order to eliminate the likelihood of infection, it is important to treat the instruments with any disinfectant.

Cuts resulting from tree pruning must be decontaminated (for example, treated with garden varnish).

Rule # 2 Wellness activity

When pruning, it must be remembered that this manipulation allows not only to correct the shape of the tree and shrub, but also is a stage in the recovery of these representatives of the flora.

Autumn pruning involves removing dry, diseased and damaged shoots. Thanks to this manipulation, the development of diseases and loss of crops can be prevented.

Rule # 3 Regularity

Sanitary pruning of trees and shrubs should be carried out every year, in late autumn, but before the onset of frost below -10 degrees.

Seedlings should be pruned even in the first year of their life. Throughout the year, the plants are renewed and, on the eve of winter, need to get rid of sick and unwanted shoots.

Rule # 4. Compliance with cut boundaries

When pruning, it is necessary to adhere to certain boundaries, which depend on the age characteristics of the plants.

So, in strongly overgrown, old shrubs, a quarter of the entire mass of shoots is subject to removal, while in young shrubs, only shoots growing towards the center of the crown are removed, and last year's shoots are shortened by 1/3 of their length.

Rule number 5 Removing shoots in several stages

If, when pruning a tree or shrub, it is required to remove a significant number of large branches, then it is strongly not recommended to do this at once. Such manipulation is the strongest stress for plants.

In addition, radical pruning in the winter is not permissible. In this case, the manipulation should be carried out gradually, over several years.

Observe these rules and then you can quickly, efficiently and most importantly painlessly for trees and shrubs, carry out the procedure for pruning them.