Episode 114: Pruning: the good, the bad and the ugly
Lateral branches will form from the pruning cut on this coleus stem
This week Joe discusses a topic he is passionate about: proper pruning. For many, pruning is simply another part of gardening, but for others it can cause a cold sweat more commonly described as prune-a-phobia.
Joe visits with Tracy DiSabato-Aust, author of “The Well-Tended Perennial Garden” considered by many to be the bible of perennial maintenance. Pruning is such a variable topic with many attributes to be taken into consideration such as climate, species, and goals of the gardener.
Pruning can induce or delay flowering, eliminate the need for staking, control disease, improve appearance but what, when and how is a large factor. Tracy takes some of the mystery out of pruning with easy tips and great advice.
But many times pruning is done for the wrong reasons. Design coach, Billy Goodnick, discusses what he considers to be ‘crimes against horticulture’ in the landscape. So often, when we don’t put the right plant in the right place we try to force it to conform, which can have environmental consequences. All plants have a genetic disposition as to height and width and it is crucial for the gardener to research the plant to see how tall and wide it will ultimately grow and whether it is suited to the desired location. And, severe shaping may be aesthetically pleasing to some but can eventually shorten a plant’s lifespan.
Done for no apparent reason, it is doubtful these trees will survive this severe topping
But what about trees that are mutilated for no apparent reason? There are many who have been convinced by unscrupulous landscapers that trees pose a danger if allowed to reach their ultimate size. Nothing could be farther from the truth as Joe explains. Trees that are routinely topped pose more of a threat than those left to their own genetic destiny.
Patti shows viewers how to properly espalier a dwarf apple tree safely for high yield in a small space and Chef Nathan makes a delicious dessert from the fruit of apricot trees.
For more information
Billy Goodnick
Tracy DiSabato-Aust
Espalier
Who has prunaphobia?
A Guide to Successful Pruning: Stop Topping Trees
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent information on pruning and amazing guests! Love Traci, Billy and the gang.
Shirley Bovshow
I wish someone would tell people in the Southern US not to top trees. It is rampant here with crepe myrtle and large trees. It breaks my heart every time I see these beautiful trees chopped up in such an ugly fashion.
Oh Robin. Don’t I know it! It’s my pet peeve. I drive my family crazy every time we get in the car to go somewhere around my small town. It makes my blood boil!!! I’m trying to educate people, especially in my town, about how their desire to top their trees is in actuality, killing them. If we could get through to the homeowner’s, maybe they’d stop hiring “Johnny Chainsaw”. But until then, it’s not going away. It’s a strange culture that is prominant in certain parts of the country, especially in pockets of the southeast.
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