It’s December again already!

In the Arizona climate, citrus fruits begin to ripen now. Change in color is due to chillier temperatures but might not always indicate sweetness. Ensure your fruit is ripe before picking and you’ll have a tasty and natural stocking stuffer right from your garden!!

Speaking of fruit trees, deciduous trees must be pruned now through February. These include mulberries, pecans, elms, ash, desert willows, chaste trees, stone fruits and others. It’s extremely important to ensure your tree care is up to speed to provide a long and healthy life for your trees. When you prune

correctly you keep your trees happy and they are going to continue to produce for you year after year! Let’s discuss the very best methods of tree pruning for optimum tree care.

Trees in the wild are never pruned, yet they normally have long healthy lives. In a natural environment, their branches develop a balance and form typical of the species. It is when trees are introduced into a metropolitan circumstance that proper pruning becomes so important. Pruning is both a skill and an art.

Why Prune A Tree?

There are really just a couple of valid reasons to prune a tree in the urban landscape:

Stimulate tree’s wellness
Reduce hazards to people
Train a young tree
Increase or decrease flowers/fruit

Identify the purpose for pruning your deciduous shade tree. Resist pruning due to the fact that the tree is developing quickly, or because the neighbors are doing work on their trees. Understand that pruning always causes a wound and usually brings about some reaction in the tree:

Loss of leaves and ability to create food from sunshine
Potential entry points for decay organisms
A rise in sprouting
Decreased stamina
Vulnerability to pest problems

Determine whether the desired benefit will bypass the adverse effect on the tree.

When to Prune A Deciduous Tree

Typically, pruning has a greater advantage if it is performed while the tree is younger. Wounds are smaller sized and recovery is more accelerated.

Deciduous trees are those that drop their leaves and experience an inactive period in reaction to cold (and sometimes drought). The very best time of year to prune is during this dormancy– when all the foliage has fallen. Typically this happens from mid-December to the last part of January (or further, in increased elevations). All pruning ought to be accomplished before buds present signs of plumping. Why?

Less chance of ripping bark
Less risk of leaking sap
Extra time for healing before bud break
Easier to see limb framework
Less likelihood of promoting excess growth

Equipment Required for Pruning

Limbs of different sizes will be extracted throughout pruning. Matching the limb size to the hand tool will make the work go more easily. Buy the very best tool you can afford. Generally, you get what you pay for.

For limbs more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, use a pruning saw. There are several available styles. High quality forged stainless steel is strongest. Those having blades on both sides of the teeth are going to cut efficiently on both forward and backward strokes. Models with blades that narrow at the end will permit easy accessibility to tight spots.
Pruning loppers are practical for limbs that are about the size of a finger. Blades that cut similar to scissors (“bypass” type) are going to make cleaner cuts. Versions are offered that have gears for efficient movement, hollow handles for reduced weight, and top quality steel edges.

Hand pruning shears are best for branches less than 1/2 inch (1.25 cm). Left handed-versions are easily available. Those with stainless steel bypass blades, and grips that fit the hand will trim efficiently with less effort.

There is always the likelihood of spreading a health problem from one plant to another. When pruning a number of plants, it is wise to disinfest your tools between plants. Dip or coat the blades with a 10 % bleach solution or using alcohol. Immediately after using pruning tools, meticulously wash, dry, and glaze the blades with a coat of light oil to prevent rusting. If kept sharp and clean, good tools are going to provide years of service.

We know this is a very busy time of year, but your trees continue to need you! If you are in need of professional assistance this season for pruning give us a ring at Joshua Tree and Landscape Company where we offer complete tree care.

Happy Holidays!