Evening star., 1952-08-10
Pruning
Is Essential
By W. H. Younqmon
Gordsn Editor

Gordsn Editor
Why is it that evergreenS In
foundation paintings become thin
and scraggly within few years? ?
That question is asked by many
home owners who have noted that
the evergreenS are not adding
much to the appearance Of the
property.
Untrimmed evergreens tend to
grow at the tips of the branches.
The interior becomes bare and
they have a thin, scraggly ap-
pearance. Most gardeners expect
to regularly prune their roses,
fruit trees. and some recognize the
Importance of an annual pruning
of coverings shrubs. But only a
few of the more experienced think
of pruning the coniferouS (nar-
row-leaved) evergreens to keep
them compact and within bounds,
and to make them stiff and strong.
Regular pruning of evergreenS
should be part Of the gardeners
work program.
The pruning Of evergreenS can
be done at any season of the
year. but most gardeners prefer to
do it just ahead of the new
growth so that the stubbs left by
the pruning will soon be hidden.
In the spring pruning may be
done anytime the weather is ia
vorable. even while the ground is
cold and wet. But, in late sum-
mer the pruning should be done
ahead of the fall rains when it is
most likely to be dry and hot.
Many gardeners put off pruning
until the new growth is started
and then rush to do the job. The
effect Of pruning at that stage of
growth is to delay the new shoots.
But otherwise pruning at this time
does not affect the plants.
Keep the Bottom Wide.
In pruning evergreenS we should
observe the same rule that guides
hedge pruning-namely. the bot
tom must be wider than the top If
growth is to be maintained down
to the ground. Whenever an aver
green becomes broad-topped or
barrel-shaped. the lower needles,
lacking sunlight. soon drop.
In pruning the evergreens COM
monty used in foundation plant
ings, such as the arborvitaes,
jumpers, yews. false cypress and
mugho pines, it is important that
they be cut back severely while
still small to encourage branching
and compact twiggy growth. Un-
less dwarf forms (varietieS) have
been used, hard pruning is neces-
Sary to keep them within bounds.
All of these kinds may be clipped
to formal outline, although that
Is neither appropriate nor desir-
able except in formal gardens. Try
to retain the normal appearance
through "shingling" rather than
by clipping"
Specimen paintings in the yard
and in the border seldom need to
be pruned as severely as those in
the foundation paintings, but they
should receive this regular atten-
ton if they are to remain COM
pact and sturdy in appearance.
Long, slender, weak growths soon
begin to arch and under the
weight of snow and ice bend to the
ground. Pruning can shorten such
growthS and make them sitter
and stronger.
Handle Leader With Care.
The pruning of spruce. pine and
frs is somewhat different than
that given to arbor-vitae and ever
greens of similar growth habits.
While the branches can be Short
ened without difficulty, the leader
should be handled with care or the
trees will have several leaders.
To slow down the upward growth
of trees and shrubs we normally
cut back the top. To do this with a
pine, spruce or fir is to develop
several leaders or to produce a.
fiat-topped tree. Neither one is de-
Sirable. Topping is necessary, but
one Of the side branches which
will develop just below the cut
must then be trained to be a new
leader.
In training new leader, select
a side branch and fasten it to a
stick or piece of bamboo that is
securely fastened to the trunk.
Green bamboo sticks are pre-
ferred since they are relatively
inconspicuous. The support is left
in place for a year or more, or
until the new growth is strong.
Do not remove the lower limbs
of cedars. pines. spruce of fir as
that destroys their natural out
line and beauty. Also, in pruning,
it is not good practice to cut
branches back to old wood except
in unusual circumstances. Very
few evergreens will produce new
growth on old wood within a
reasonably short time. Avoid
leaving stubs when pruning be-
cause they are unsightly. 1t is bet
ter to cut back to a fork or to
current live needles.
Through regular and systematic
pruning the evergreens will re-
main cOmnact attractive and Stavl
within bounds longer than will
unpruned shrubs and trees. A
well-pruned evergreen has more
vigor and is more attractive to
look at.
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