PRUNING REQUIREMENTS

The question of the necessary pruning required by various trees andshrubs is a natural one. Many persons are under the impression thatevery tree and shrub requires a certain amount of pruning each year.Many are under the further impression that all of this pruning shouldbe done in the winter and spring, while others are under the impres-sion that it should be done during the summer or fall.

The most important fact to be known in connection with the opera-tion of pruning is that one should be thoroughly familiar with theflowering characteristics of the plants to be pruned. Our lawn shrubsespecially, which are often subject to the most indiscriminate kinds ofpruning, comprise a group of plants with which this chapter is con-cerned. Pruning is done for various purposes, as outlined and dis-cussed in the chapter on Pruning. The question under discussion inthis chapter is whether or not all shrubs shall be pruned at a definiteseason of the year, and if not, what are the special reasons why thisstandard method of procedure should not be adopted.