General Principles of Pruning

Plants grow in many shapes and sizes. Some have central leaders with tall, straight trunks ( an excurrent growth habit). Others have several main branches with spreading crowns ( a deliquescent, diffuse, or decurrent growth habit). B tween these extremes, intermediate forms occur. The natural characteristics of different plants can be exploited through landscape use and maintenance practices. Pruning can enhance plant appearance and safeguard plant health and well-being. Depending on its extent, pruning can affect a plant from root to crown. Growers should therefore be familiar with pruning techniques and plant responses to pruning. You should be able to determine the growth habit of a plant by observing its growth and its response to previous pruning and thereby be able to properly prune even unfamiliar species.