Introduction to Plant Pruning

Educational flashcards covering the vocabulary, tools, techniques, and biological responses related to plant pruning based on the lecture transcript.

Reasons for Pruning

Activities performed to maintain plant health, improve appearance, control size, influence flowering and fruit development, and remove dead or hazardous limbs.

Rejuvenation

A pruning technique used as a "reset button" to restart a plant by aggressively pruning it five to six inches (or up to eight to sixteen inches) above the soil surface.

Vascular cambium

The green tissue found underneath the bark that indicates a dormant branch is still alive.

Pruning shears (hand pruners)

Tools designed for cutting plant material that is $\frac{3}{4}\,inch$ in diameter or smaller.

Lopping shears (loppers)

Pruning tools used for branches ranging from $1\,inch$ to $1.5\,inches$ in diameter.

Handsaws

Tools used for larger limbs that cannot be cut with pruning shears; available as manual hand saws or on extension poles.

Chainsaws

Power saws used for larger branches and felling trees, specifically for material $6\,inches$ to $8\,inches$ in diameter and bigger.

Felco

A brand of hand pruners described as the "gold standard" for performance and longevity if properly maintained.

Apical dominance

The suppression of lateral (axillary) bud growth by the terminal bud through the production of auxin.

Auxin

A phytohormone produced by the apical meristem that moves down the stem to keep axillary buds dormant.

Reduction cut

A cut that removes a portion of a main trunk or terminal branch back to a lateral branch of equal or smaller diameter.

Removal cut

A pruning cut (also known as thinning) that eliminates a lateral branch back to its point of origin on a primary stem.

Thinning

The selective removal of branches to open up a plant, improve light penetration and air circulation, and accentuate natural growth.

Heading cut

A pruning cut that removes a portion of a branch back to a specific bud, often used to encourage branching or restore damaged shrubs.

Topping

An unacceptable pruning practice where the outer parts of a tree are cut back indiscriminately.

Branch collar

The area of connective tissue containing xylem and phloem at the base of a branch that must be protected during pruning to allow for proper wound healing.

Three-cut method

A process for removing large limbs consisting of an undercut to prevent bark stripping, a second removal cut farther out, and a final cleanup cut outside the branch collar.

Old wood

Stems from the previous year's growth; pruning spring-flowering shrubs before they bloom can sacrifice the flowers formed on this wood.

New wood

The current year's growth; plants like the Beautyberry (Callicarpa) flower on this wood and can be pruned in late winter without sacrificing flowers.

Outward facing bud

A bud positioned away from the center of the plant; pruning to these encourages growth that reduces center crowding and prevents a tangled mess.