DIYbanter - View Single Post - how to prune a branch without killing it?

Smitty Two

In article ,
(David Combs) wrote:

Thanks much for those two suggestions!

Now I can go back to work!

David

FIRST-PS: Oh, I've been reading that you're supposed to hold
off pruning until the end of winter or during the early
spring.

What problem from doing it at other times, eg now?

David

SECOND-PS: When wallking my doggie (super cute bijon) I often
notice short hedges (4 feet high, 5 feet?) in which, you know,
the leaves on these hedges, so as to get the sun, grow only
on the outside "surface", with only "naked" branches on the
"inside".

Looks like what happened sometimes is that bushy-leafy end
protruded out beyond (into the sidewalk, maybe), and they
pruned off the extending-out-too-far part, leaving
just a, well, "stick" (no leaves anywhere nearby)
going back to a "parent" (often the bushes' "trunk") --
looks horrible.

So, you're (well, one of you is) saying that they
should have cut off the entire branch, back at its
origin.

(assuming no branch-points leading to leafy branches on
other parts of the "surface".)

Yes? (I'm just trying to verify (or disprove) my understanding
of your suggestions.)

THANKS!

David

You might be overthinking this thing. I prune when I feel like it, and
it's not been problematic. Now if you're talking about roses or some
other finicky thing, then I'd stick with the recommended season.

Hedges are pruned to shape without regard to where the branches get cut.
They can look naked if reshaped or allowed to get too long before
pruning, but will soon refill with outer green.