Pruning: How, Where and Why

Description

To prune or not to prune? Spring has sprung on our beautiful Olympic Peninsula, and this perennial question has many of us pondering once again. We’ve all encountered varied guidance over the years: some folklore, some family traditions, additional “rules” from reliable sources, but still “does that really apply to my plant?” races through our minds as we face our favorite shrub or tree holding our amputation tools. Turns out, there often are multiple “right” answers for a plant. Selecting the “best” pruning answer for your plant depends on a combination of plant specifics and the owner’s desires. Some solutions are mutually exclusive, so it’s important to follow a checklist of questions to prescribe specifically for each pruning opportunity. On Saturday, May 23rd from 10-11:30 a.m. at Woodcock Demonstration Garden, 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim, Clallam County Master Gardener Keith Dekker will share his science-based knowledge to untangle the mysteries of when and how to prune. Come join Keith for the Digging Deeper Saturday’s talk and demonstration, “Pruning: How, Where and Why" at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden. A 50-year veteran in the field of horticulture, the last 35 in western Washington, Keith will outline rules and methods, illuminated by pruning after heavy growth appears requires greater attention and care to correctly position your trimming cuts. For example: • Starting with how to build the pruning plan for any plant before touching a tool, you will consider your larger goals for that entire bed and how the target plant fits in. • Learning which type of pruning cut (and associated tool) is appropriate for different locations on a plant also will contribute to your plan design and implementation. MG Keith Dekker demonstrates multi-step pruning technique for safely removing long/weighty branches. • Understanding common pruning mistakes and what makes them a ‘mistake’ will help you avoid them. • Using pruning to “renovate” a plant that has had pruning mistakes (including being left too long without pruning), will enable you to bring that plant back to its natural beauty. • Reviewing alternatives to pruning to solve landscape problems may target you to the best solution. The goal for Pruning: How, Where and Why is to bring participants greater knowledge in analyzing the potential pruning options for their plants and to build their confidence in approaching the task, whether on their own or in hiring a professional. Digging Deeper Saturdays presentations are free, open to all and no registration required, so feel free to bring an interested friend or neighbor. Presentations are outdoors, so dress for the weather.