Why Are Landscape Plants Pruned?
• To maintain the natural shape of the plant. • To maintain or limit the size of a plant. • To remove undesirable growth that would detract from the appearance. • To remove broken, unsightly, diseased or insect-damaged growth. • To develop a particular form, such as a hedge. – To produce compact growth and prevent spindly habits. – To promote new growth, particularly in older shrubs. • To improve future flowering and/or fruiting by removing old flowers and fruit. • To improve the chances of survival at transplanting time. • To maintain maximum coloration on plants selected for twig or stem color. • To improve or maintain flowering by removing some branches so more light can penetrate to the interior of the plant. • To direct or correct the growth in shade trees to prevent problems later–eg. eliminating weak crotches or poor branch attachments. • To remove suckers and/or water sprouts. • To rejuvenate old, declining plants by removing older wood so young growth can develop. • To increa
