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By Gene Pouly, CGM
E.F. Pouly Co.

One of the highlights of the 2005 PGMS School of Grounds Management was Gene Pouly, CGM’s presentation, “Training and Pruning Young Trees.” Sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts, this hands-on program focused on proper procedures of pruning and training young trees, while also addressing a bit of biology. Below is a list of quick pointers based upon this presentation.

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
Before actually pruning the trees ponder the Frank Lloyd Wright quote, “Form follows function.” Decide what the function of the tree is for the microclimate that you want to put it in. Consider the characteristics that you want the tree to exhibit: leaf size and shape, branch structure and strength, mature width and height, growth rate of canopy and root system, canopy and root density, etc. Once you have decided on the function the tree is to perform in the landscape, the form will be dictated by your educated selection.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Find out everything you are able to dig up about the trees you are considering using. Referring to books, Internet, or a trip to the horticultural library allows grounds professionals to easily do this research in a conventional manner. Other ways of obtaining information include networking with plant people from all walks of life – the university professor, the landscape, nursery, and garden center sector, or the retired farmer. You will be amazed what you can find out and even more amazed to find where this knowledge resides.

BALANCING HEALTH & AESTHETICS
Once you have decided on the function of the tree and have selected a form, it is time to select a pruning style that maintains a balance of tree health and aesthetics. Ideally, the best pruning style is no pruning at all. In a theoretical world I would like to think that you have done such an excellent job of tree selection that pruning will not need to be done at all. Keep in mind that any pruning cut is surgery and equates to injury!

PERFECT PRUNING TOOL FOR YOU!
Pruning styles may be formal pruning such as shearing, espalier, topiary, or informal styles using pruning standard methods – including crown cleaning, crown thinning, crown shaping, crown raising, and crown reduction – in an effort to maintain the natural form of the tree. During my lecture I shared the pruning tools for both root and crown pruning that I prefer. There is no perfect pruning tool. Each professional is going to have his/her favorites. The rule of thumb is to have pruning tools that are sharp to allow for a clean cut and are designed to allow you to perform the pruning cut properly. For example, it would not be a wise choice to use a chain saw to shear a plant as topiary. The cuts might be a little rough.

START THEM YOUNG
Trees and people are more alike than we realize. When your parents raised you they most likely concentrated on teaching you values while you were young so you could function properly in society. In your youth you were undoubtedly more flexible and easier to train. Generally as you have gotten older you are more likley to be set in your ways and to have become more rigid and stiff-necked. These same principles apply with trees. If possible, it is best to do training and structural pruning while a tree is young and shift to maintenance pruning as the tree reaches maturity.

Just remember that pruning is stuck somewhere in the gray area between art and science. Pruning and training of young trees should start by planning for the species of tree to be located in that special microclimate that you have chosen. When the pruning is to be performed, select proper pruning styles and have the appropriate sharp tools to do the minimal amount of injury to accomplish the goal.

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