Pruning Flashcards
What are the 8 factors affecting the pruning of shrubs, vines and ground cover?
1) plant form
2) function
3) age
4) timing
5) pre-pruning treatments
6) severe pruning
7) alternatives to pruning
8) location
Define growth habit: erect
Upright, stiff vertical
Define growth habit: rhizomatous
Arise from horizontal underground stems.
Define growth habit: arching
branches emerging upright but curving gently downwards
What is deadheading?
Removing spent flowers to encourage further blooming.
Define decurrent plant form
Round shape
1) STRONG apical DOMINANCE
2) WEAK apical CONTROL
What are the 5 reasons for pruning? And one other pruning consideration
1) aesthetics
2) control, direct or modify growth
3) enhance fruit & flower production
4) manage dead, diseased, dying and interfering tissue
5) maintain health & vigour
OTHER: safety and liability
What three things should a new pruner do?
1) identify the plant first
2) record pruning techniques used
3) follow up on the plant response
Define growth habit: climbing
Either by twinning by stems, petioles, tendrils or self clinging
Define growth habit: scandent
Scrambling or loosely climbing.
Define growth habit: excurrent
One central leader, branches at right angles to main stem.
Define growth habit: procumbent
Trailing loosely or lying flat on the ground, prostrate.
Define excurrent plant form
Triangle shape
1) STRONG apical CONTROL
2) WEAK apical DOMINANCE
Define growth habit: weeping
Pendulous, either branches or branchlets. In some species there is no upright stem growth - these cultivars remain procumbent if not staked.
Define growth habit.
The general appearance, form (shape) and manner of growth of a plant.
Define growth habit: decumbent
no central leader, branches ascending, repeated branching
What are pruning objectives/reasons established by? (4)
1) plant species
2) plant structure
3) plant’s state of health
4) plant’s environment
Define growth habit: fastigiate
Upright branches from a narrow canopy.
Define growth habit: ascending
Curving or angling upwards at 30-60” less than vertical
Define growth habit: decurrent
no central leader, branches ascending, repeated branching
Three examples of functional pruning
1) structural
2) branches touching buildings
3) increase air circulation
4) enhance views
5) shrubs/vines/ground cover by walkways/roads
Define growth habit: stoloniferous
spread by horizontal ground-level stems
What is pruning?
The selective cutting and removing of plant material from a shrub or tree.
