An Illustrated Guide to Pruning [antikvár]

PrefaceHistorically, pruning has been perfomed in response to the short-term desires of people, with not enough thought given to how pruning affects tree structure and health. These two objectives can both be met after the elementary concepts of tree growth have been understood. This book reviews basic elements of tree biology (the science) before presenting the principles of tree pruning and training (the art). Pruning should incorporate the science into the skill required to perform the art.Proper pruning of young trees has a significant impact on their future growth. Second to placing a tree in a proper location and planting it correctly, pruning has the biggest impact on longevity. Young trees that are properly trained and pruned in the nursery survive storms better after planting and are likely to live longer and be stronger and healthier than trees that are not pruned, or those that are improperly pruned. Planting properly trained trees makes it easier for caretakers in the landscape to complete the job begun in the nursery of developing and maintaining structurally sound trees.Unfortunately, many trees are not trained or pruned properly in the nursery or landscape. Nursery operators, horticulturists, landscape managers, and arborists have a responsibility to their customers to learn how to prune young and medium-aged trees in order to minimize the need for expensive corrective measures later. Homeowners also should have a basic understanding in order to evaluate the pruning needs in their yards. Pruning young trees is easy and relatively inexpensive. As in the field of human health, preventive maintenance is more economical and promotes healthier individuals than reactive, corrective therapy. Pruning mature trees properly is important too, and requires great skill, patience, and practice.One of the most striking effects on transplanted trees is loss of apical dominance caused by transplant stress. Until the transplanted tree has a well established root system, lateral branches often gorw as fast as the leader, which often results in undesirable formation of codominant stems. Codominant stems are equally dominant or similarly sized stems or trunks on the same tree. This can result in broken trees, property damage or personal injury. Appropriate water management during the establishment period is likely to encourageix