Better pruning ...			...for northeners
			by Diana Roberts

Spring is a time when we start looking at what we may need to do around the garden, such as pruning. Novice gardeners may think pruning is a yearly thing which must be done, when in reality, there must be a good reason to prune. The main reasons for pruning are to get rid of dead branches, improve the shape of a tree, enhance flowering and branching and to keep it to a manageable size.

This maple needs pruning!

If there is not a good reason to prune, then don't. It is very important to know what you are doing when you prune, as bad pruning can affect a tree for it's entire life. Pruning should be done on trees when there are no leaves so you can see the shape clearly. In the north, it is better to prune trees in the spring, as it gives them all summer to heal over. Fall pruning is usually not a good idea in the north because winter comes so quickly that the wounds would not have time to heal. (Besides, a moose may decide to prune for you)

This is the result using long-handled pruning saws - much better

When choosing a pruning time, be careful that some trees, such as birch, are not pruned when the sap is up, or they could bleed badly. I once watched a weeping birch, pruned at the wrong time, drip from every cut for eight days straight. The tree didn't die, but pruning at this time would definitely have weakened it. To check if it is a good time to prune, cut a tip off a branch and leave it for a few hours, if it is not bleeding then you're safe.