Pruning to Maximize Fruiting Display
Shrubs or trees that are prized for their fruit should be
pruned after the fruit drops or is eaten by wildlife.
Although they may flower early in the season, the fruit
should be allowed to develop. After the fruit has lost its
appeal, then prune. Examples of plants in this group are
certain viburnums and hawthorns.
Pruning Needle (Coniferous) Evergreens
To promote a compact plant, coniferous evergreens can
be pruned in late spring as the new branches elongate,
but before they become stiff. Otherwise, they, like
broadleaved evergreens, can be pruned whenever the
wood is not frozen. However, coniferous types will
generally not develop new shoots on older wood, so it
isn’t advisable to cut back beyond the living foliage
portion of the branches.
Pruning Trees Known as “Bleeders”
Some deciduous trees have an exceptionally heavy sap
flow in the early spring. If cuts are made then, the trees
will “bleed.” While this sap loss does not injure the tree, it
can be objectionable aesthetically and cause problems
for pedestrians, automobiles, etc., passing underneath.
“Bleeding” can be avoided by pruning in mid-summer or
late fall. Maple, birch, dogwood, elm, walnut, and
yellowwood are examples of trees best treated this way.
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