What Everyone Gets Wrong About Pruning An Evergreen Tree
When it comes to garden upkeep, many plants and trees in your yard do well with a yearly cut back. Some love a tidy up in the cold winter months, while there are other plants you should be pruning in spring to keep them happy and healthy. But, while you're out there on your annual prune, you may want to avoid touching your evergreen trees. Many gardeners prune their evergreen trees once a year, but this is a common mistake that can harm the health and appearance of the tree. Most evergreen trees need little pruning, and any pruning that is done should focus on the removal of dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Unlike certain deciduous shrubs and trees, which tend to need pruning yearly, pruning evergreen trees should depend on what is actually necessary for the individual tree.
So, why can't you prune evergreen trees when you do your annual cut back in your yard? Well, it's all about how these trees grow back from being pruned. Most deciduous trees can replace the growth that they have lost pretty quickly, bouncing back from the prune to create the shape and size you are after. Evergreen trees, however, don't really do that, and they can become disfigured from overpruning. Certain evergreens, such as pines and spruces, will not put on new growth if you cut back into older wood, which leaves stumps that die. Others have dead zones that do not regrow when cut. By taking it slowly and only pruning an evergreen tree when it is needed, you'll keep your tree healthy and looking good.
Read more: 27 Flowering Plants You Should Always Deadhead For Maximum Blooms
The best time of year to prune an evergreen tree
When to prune an evergreen tree depends on both the species of tree you have in your yard and the individual needs of both the tree and the space it is in. If your evergreen tree is becoming overgrown for its area or is growing too closely to homes or pathways, you may wish to prune it. Similarly, if there are a lot of dead or damaged branches in the tree, pruning is necessary for health and safety.
If you have an evergreen tree in your yard that needs pruning, the time of year you cut it back depends on what type you have. If you are pruning pine trees or spruce trees, opt to do so in May after they have put on their new spring growth. You can tidy up junipers and arborvitaes in spring or summer, but it is best to avoid doing so when it is really warm. However, whichever tree you have, you should avoid pruning it in the late summer or fall if you can. Doing so can cause the tree to put on new growth that is vulnerable to the cold when winter comes around.
Make sure you're pruning the right spot on your evergreen trees
When your evergreen trees need some attention, you need to remember the three D rule to properly prune them. This means first examining the tree for dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Remove these by cutting them back to healthy branches. Make sure that you are not cutting the branches back to the trunk, as this can damage the tree. Instead, cut outside of the branch collar (which is the swollen wood that connects the branch to the trunk) at a 45 to 60 degree angle. This will help the wound heal quickly.
Maintain the natural shape of the tree as you are removing branches by following its branching pattern. You need to avoid pruning the central leader of evergreen trees, which is the trunk, as this can cause multiple trunks to grow that are more susceptible to damage. If you need to remove the central leader from your tree, ensure that there is a new leader developing or force one yourself by tying a branch upright. If younger trees are developing two leaders, remove one of them.
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