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001-Pruning 101:
The Pruning Basics From A to Z

| Care, Podcast

I’m starting off our new podcast series with this episode dedicated to pruning 101 – the pruning basics from A to Z because when it comes to pruning, there’s more to know than just taking your shears or loppers to a plant whenever and wherever you want. A lot more if you want to do it right.

Even though I’ve been pruning for years, removing perfectly healthy stems and branches to make it grow more always gives me pause. While I understand the science of why we cut to stimulate new growth, to this day it is still completely counter-intuitive.

In this episode, we address the following topics and more:

Why we prune:

  • To remove dead or diseased foliage
  • To reduce size
  • To improve overall structure or growing conditions
  • To stimulate new growth

But knowing when to prune is just as important as knowing where to prune. There’s the best time (late winter/early spring). There’s a next-best time (early/mid-summer). And there’s a time you shouldn’t prune (fall – unless you’re just cutting dead or diseased branches. Then any time is fine).

And then there’s the issue of when to prune certain flowering shrubs. It depends on whether it blooms on old or new wood. Cut them at the wrong time and you risk not having any new flowers the following season.

Bypass and Anvil Style Pruners

Bypass pruners (L) are best for cutting live plant material vs. Anvil style (R) which is best for cutting dead wood

Having the right equipment to make the right cut matters a lot. Anvil or bypass pruners? It depends on what you’re cutting.

Then there’s the matter or where to make the cut, and how much to cut when you do.

Conifers have unique issues that require you think a bit differently when pruning or cutting them back. They don’t respond the same way and they bleed a lot when you do cut them, at least during their most active growth phase.

Pruning basics - my worst nightmare: Tree Topping

And lastly, I rant about tree topping. It’s extreme pruning of healthy trees and it’s the biggest crime against horticulture I know. On the list of felonies, this is a capital offense.

While the inevitable consequences of doing so may be unintentional, the outcome is inevitable. It’s usually a slow death of formerly healthy, beautiful majestic trees, especially when the same tree is subjected to the chainsaw several years in a row. Suffice it to say, I hate tree topping! And I write about why tree topping is harmful here and even included a segment in my television show on why tree topping needs to stop.

If you want a summary article on Pruning 101; The Pruning Basics From A to Z, I’ve got you covered. You can even watch this short video that helps illustrate the points as well.

Leave us a voice message right now. You can do that right now from your computer. Ask us a question or leave us a comment. The tab is on the right side of this page of the show notes. We might even use your recorded question in a future episode, so please be sure to leave your contact info in case we need to get back in touch with you.

Special thanks to Corona Tools our podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joe gardener®. They’re offering listeners of this podcast a special 20% discount PLUS free shipping (U.S residents only). Simply visit their website and enter “joegardener20” at checkout for your instant discount.

I hope you like what you hear so far. We have new podcasts coming every week. Please consider subscribing so you don’t miss an episode. And if you’re willing, I’d really appreciate your honest review on iTunes. It helps us create the best content and helps others find out about us. Thank you!

About Joe Lamp'l

Joe Lamp’l is the creator and “joe” behind joe gardener®. His lifetime passion and devotion to all things horticulture has led him to a long-time career as one of the country’s most recognized and trusted personalities in organic gardening and sustainability. That is most evident in his role as host and creator of Emmy Award-winning Growing a Greener World®, a national green-living lifestyle series on PBS currently broadcasting in its tenth season. When he’s not working in his large, raised bed vegetable garden, he’s likely planting or digging something up, or spending time with his family on their organic farm just north of Atlanta, GA.

6 Responses to “001-Pruning 101:
The Pruning Basics From A to Z”

  • Joe Lamp'l says:

    Hey everybody! Welcome. I am so excited to finally be back in the podcasting chair. I love podcasting! I just wasn’t able to allocate the time it takes each week to record, edit and post them on a consistent basis. But now I am. In fact, I used much of the pre-gardening season to record quite a few podcasts and interviews in an effort to stay ahead and keep new episodes coming every week.

    So here’s the first one. You can subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast player. I hope you like this one and all the ones to follow. Thanks for being here. I’d love to hear what you think!

  • Wendy says:

    Hi Joe…love the three podcast (so far). However, I cannot find this podcast on iTunes (although I found lots from you other series and look forward to checking them out). I especially like the fact that you give us permission to not be perfect and allow us to learn from your (and your guests) mistakes and successes. Go Joe!!

    • Joe Lamp'l says:

      Hi Wendy! Thanks for loving the podcasts so far. Actually this site is currently in soft-launch mode so yes, we’re out there but we don’t officially go live until a week from today. During the next few days we have a lot more content to add and things on our to-do list, like connect iTunes to our podcasts. So fear not. By this time next week, we’ll be there and discoverable on most other podcast players. And, we’ll have part 2 of the Craig LeHoullier podcast on Heirloom Tomatoes.
      So thanks again for chiming in here. And you do have new weekly podcasts from me to look forward to.
      Keep in touch and let me know what you think or what you’d like to hear.
      All the best, Joe

    • Joe Lamp'l says:

      Hey again Wendy. Just wanted to update you. The podcast is now on iTunes and Stitcher. And you can also download it to your favorite podcast player. I use the Downcast app and love it!
      By the way, we just released episode 004 today. It’s the follow up conversation with Craig LeHoullier on heirloom tomatoes that I mentioned in my last comment to you. Hope you enjoy and keep on listening. New podcasts will be coming every week. Cheers.

  • Joe Lamp'l says:

    Hi Wendy! Thanks for loving the podcasts so far. Actually this site is currently in soft-launch mode so yes, we’re out there but we don’t officially go live until a week from today. During the next few days we have a lot more content to add and things on our to-do list, like connect iTunes to our podcasts. So fear not. By this time next week, we’ll be there and discoverable on most other podcast players. And, we’ll have part 2 of the Craig LeHoullier podcast on Heirloom Tomatoes.

    So thanks again for chiming in here. And you do have new weekly podcasts from me to look forward to.

    Keep in touch and let me know what you think or what you’d like to hear.

    All the best, Joe

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