Winter pruning for springtime growth

“Plants which branch out widely are often more flourishing for a little timely pruning.” -- with apologies to Thomas

Babington Macaulay

The question arises every winter: Why prune?

Left to their own devices, many plants will grow wildly, unchecked and unproductive. The object of pruning, which in Plant Man parlance translates to cutting or trimming, is to modify plant growth. But before we set off to prune our roses or fruit trees, let’s review how plants grow.

All plants grow or elongate themselves by producing new growth at sites we call buds. The terminal bud develops at the top of a plant, on the end of a stem or branch, and causes a plant to grow taller. The lateral bud grows on the sides of stems. These buds produce the sideways growth that makes a plant bushy.

When a plant is actively growing, plant hormones called auxins are found within the growth buds. It is these hormones that cause bud formation and expansion. When a bud is removed, the auxin flows elsewhere. This explains why a plant that is topped grows bushy; the auxin is transferred from the terminal bud to the lateral buds. Conversely, when lateral buds are removed, a plant will grow taller.

The act of pruning helps to maintain a plant’s health. Young plants may grow actively for a few years, then become lazy -- they lose interest in being vigorous. To keep plants young, the removal of older stems directs the plant to produce new stems and leaves. A simple and open plant structure allows sunlight and air to reach all of the leaves -- a necessity for continued good appearance and new plant growth.

Specialized pruning allows a gardener to keep plants shapely and control their growth. With a little experience, you’ll be able to predict the outcome of pruning and produce a variety of special plant effects. Espaliers are an example of specialized pruning, as are topiary and bonsai. Many gardeners have discovered that vines can be made into ground covers and trees into hedges.

Neglected or poorly pruned plants can be restored and/or rejuvenated by pruning. When you make a plant more attractive by pruning, you are practicing the gardener’s art of proper cuts and thinning.

Finally, skillful pruning can increase the quality and yield of fruit and flowers. Many plants, like roses and deciduous fruit trees, not only require care to be shapeful, but are dependent on knowledgeable pruning to produce beautiful flowers and bountiful fruit.

Pruning, like any gardening or landscaping activity, requires a little knowledge and lots of enthusiasm. Mistakes are made in order to learn -- besides, it’ll grow back!

Take advantage of the rain-free days to complete garden chores leftover from the holidays. Maybe you could even take down those holiday lights; after all, it’s 330 days until Christmas. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery, 1540 S. Coast Highway. He can be reached at (949) 497-2438, or by e-mail at plantman2@mac.com.

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