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So yes, if you’re wondering if you could get away with not pruning at all, you can, but it's not the best idea.Īs mentioned before, pruning isn't only removing stems. Trees left to grow on their own are irregularly shaped and may appear lopsided or sparse. Less pruning can also mean fewer flowers and less growth, which results in less fruit for you to enjoy, or too much where diseases and pests thrive. Uncut growth at the bottom of the tree near the base might cause a weak harvest due to the tree directing energy away from the growing fruits. As your tree grows, the branches may break under the weight of the fruit and potentially damage property nearby when it falls. Maintains the look of the landscape and aesthetic appealīy not pruning, you can expect your tree to grow, flower and fruit, but don’t expect it to look tidy or be as productive.Promotes the overall health of the tree.The benefits of pruning are almost endless and universally help plants if done correctly. You can prune to inhibit growth just as much as you can to promote growth (more on this later). However, unlike a haircut, when a part of a plant is removed it redirects the internal energy. There’s also an in-between where you can balance both looks and health, which is the most popular with the majority of home gardeners. There are very visually stunning pruning techniques like topiary or purely functional styles designed to optimize fruit production. There are two main reasons to prune - looks and health, and just like a haircut, your tree can grow even if the pruning wasn’t the best. The same is true when it comes to pruning plants. In the unfortunate case that you get a bad haircut, your hair will grow out with time. It’s done both for the health of your hair as much as it is to get the look that you want. The best way to understand how pruning affects the tree is to compare it to a haircut. This includes removing flowers, fruits, branches, and roots, but of course, this is done with the plant's health in mind, not at random. Pruning is quite simply the act of removing any part of the plant. Then, keep reading as we get into the nitty-gritty of pruning! Take a look shows us how she prunes her fruit trees. Running short on time? Skip ahead to a specific section below: And rest assured because we’re going to take the stress and mystery out of pruning and break it down so you can trim your plants with confidence! After all, you're waiting for your trees to grow and now you have to-gasp!-cut them back?īut, trust us, pruning is valuable and worthwhile-your fruit trees will thank you in return. Say it with us: pruning is a good thing! We understand that pruning can be scary.
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