Winter Pruning
A colleague of mine recently commented that the best time to prune woody plants is when he has a pair of pruners in his hand. His point was that when he sees something that needs to be cut off, he takes care of it right away. While I understand and respect his efficiency, winter pruning is kind of a ritual that I look forward to each year. Deciduous trees are still naked, and it is a good time to examine the branching structure and make any needed changes. I start with the maples in January before the sap begins to run. I try to take care of the rest of the woodies by the end of March, while they are still dormant. I’ll even tackle the spring bloomers in March if I see crossing or congested branching. They are much easier to examine before they leaf out. Then, I’ll go back after they bloom if I need to reduce them in size. I also have some gnarly weeping trees such as Japanese Maples and Persian Ironwoods. Winter is the best time for me to make the cuts needed to constantly redirect the growth in order to achieve that contorted look.
Since becoming a gardener, I have learned to appreciate the winter silhouettes that trees provide in the landscape. I can’t help myself from visually examining every tree I pass when I walk my dog. (My dog, by the way, has his own rituals with these trees). I marvel at the well balanced skeletons that gracefully reach for the sky. But this time of year, every branching flaw, every stub cut, every water sprout and every crossing branch is exposed. So for me, now is the time to clean them up and prepare those trees and shrubs for the upcoming growing season. For a comprehensive pruning reference, check out the Minnesota Extension Service site.
Posted by Bob Rensel
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