Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-04
PRUNING SHADE TREES
4 Knowledge OF the Habits Of the
frees md shrubs Essential.

The first step in pruning should be a
proper knowledge OF the habits of trees
and plants to be pruned. otherwise more
harm thar good Is the result of this on
Grafton. Yet, so many rush i'm. here.
where care and knowledge fear to tread.
II a few ornamental trees have been mr.
chased, FOR instance. they should be care
fully looked over before being nlanted
and all bruised or broken roots cut off
M To the sound wood. This prevents
their decaying and hastens the starting
Of new roots and fbres. The prepara-
ton of the top consists In cutting back
the ton side branches in such , way
as to correspond with the NOR. or less
mutilated roots; thus trees with branch.
ing heads should have the small branches
cut clean out, and the larger ones, in
tended for the frame work Of The tree.
cut back to within two or three buds Of
/ their base. In cases where there Is an
abundant root and "a small ton or few
branches. the pruning should he very
light, but where the roots arc small and
topheavY. severe pruning becomes ncccs-
sary. These rules hold good for oil de.
! cidious treos and shrubs. Evprgroens
seldom need pruning except when set in
hedgerows, when they mnv he shurn to
advantage after setting out,
In pruning shrubs aud Forthcoming
trees. the pruner should know whether
the bloom IL on tho shoots of last season
or on the now wood Of the present sea b.
son. also whether he flower buds Of
spY,nr-bloomlue plants are scpa~ato from
the loaf-buds. Careful observation will
casiiv determine these points ON any
plant. The spring-hloomiur woody
plants usually produce their flowers from
BUDS perfected tho autumn before. and
this is the case with most fruit ,reeS.
and such shrubs as lilac. wisteria. mock
orange. forsythia. tree peouy. virbur-
NUNS, Welsclias. and some uf the %spircaS.
Il. therefore, tic shoots ur these plants
axe cut back In the late spring or autumn.
there will b" no blossoms. The proper
time to rune such plants is j,rst after
the Towering season, except. Of course.
when It becomes necessary TO cut out
dead wood or tim out the bush The
umner blooming woody plants, on the
other hand, usually produce their Glow
ers on shoots that grow early in the
Same season. Among these may he men
toned grapes, ounce, hybrid perpetual
roses, shrubby hibiscus. hYdrangca tpan
i~culata). etc. Winter and early spring
pruning in these cases is altogether
SAFE. Never pruno either shade trees OF
shrubs any more than Is absolutely neces-
sary. Interfering branches. crossed
branches on the same tree which rub on
dead or dying branches. should, however
he removed; hut IN pruning he sure tn,
saw, knife, and shears are sharp and
cut off all bra close to tho trunk
painting over the ends of those that arc
over an inch across.
Pruning should be done before the sar
starts. and tn" pruner will do well tc
have always before him the natural form
of the shrub or tree. which should b.
changed as little as possible. For OK.
ample. could anything he less beautiful
than q mock orange or a snowfall by
drangea trimmed in the shape of a fea
ther buster or like II thin-stemmed vase
Vet n drive through the suburbs otter
reveals many beautiful shrubs ruined II
Just such fashion by cnonnt gardeners