What is Training Pruning?
This type of pruning helps the tree develop a strong structure, a harmonious shape, and correct any deformities. Training pruning must be performed on healthy trees. If this type of pruning is carried out on a tree with weakened health and a significant portion of the tree’s canopy is removed, its photosynthesis capacity will decrease. This will directly impact the tree’s health, further reducing its vigor and chances of survival. A weakened tree may be due to various factors, such as difficulty establishing roots, insufficient time to anchor itself properly after planting, poor soil conditions, lack of water, and more.
When to Perform Training Pruning?
It is best to wait two to three years after planting a young tree before performing training pruning. During the early years following planting, only dead or broken branches should be removed. It is important to allow the tree to recover from the stress of transplantation.
What Are the Benefits for the Tree?
- Allows the tree to develop a strong and aesthetically pleasing structure as it matures;
- Helps form a straight and well-shaped trunk;
- Reduces the need for corrective structural pruning in adulthood.
Basic Principles
Before proceeding with training pruning, it is essential to set a long-term goal, as all cuts will affect the tree’s growth.
It is important to use the right tools for the job:
- Understand proper cutting techniques to preserve and maintain tree health;
- When a branch is cut, the healing process begins. During this process, the tree continues to grow and eventually encloses the wound completely. Tree wounds do not “heal” in the conventional sense; they remain inside the tree for the rest of its life.
- Prioritizing the removal of smaller branches benefits the tree, as they cause less damage than removing large branches. Training pruning is best performed on young trees since, once mature, they will require less corrective pruning.
How to Perform Training Pruning and What Elements Need to Be Corrected?
To ensure the pruning work is carried out properly, it is best to entrust the task to a professional arborist. Poor cuts and incorrect practices can severely impact the health and growth of a young tree. A specialist will carefully prune branches, ensuring that no more than twenty percent of the tree’s biomass is removed to preserve its health. They will select the tree’s primary and secondary branches and determine which superficial branches can be eliminated. Additionally, they will gradually raise the tree’s crown over the years to achieve the desired shape once the tree reaches maturity.
Using the proper tools is essential for high-quality work. A bypass pruning shear is an excellent choice for trimming small branches, providing clean and precise cuts. When branches exceed half an inch in diameter, pruning should be done using a lopper or a pruning saw. It is crucial to properly disinfect and sharpen tools before performing training pruning.
Pruning cuts must be made cleanly, precisely, and in the correct locations to maximize healing and tree growth. A branch should be cut just outside its collar to avoid damaging the trunk and to ensure proper wound closure. If a cut needs to be made along a branch, it is essential to do so at a lateral branch or a bud. Improper pruning at incorrect locations can lead to stem decay and poor growth orientation.
For young trees, it is important to maintain a dominant central stem and avoid cutting its tip. This stem will become the main trunk in adulthood, and it is crucial to prevent secondary branches from competing with it. Some trees develop two dominant vertical axes, which weakens their structure. It is strongly recommended to remove or shorten one of these axes while the tree is still young. Doing this early allows easier healing since the eliminated codominant branch is smaller. The tree will recover much more effectively compared to performing this pruning in adulthood.
Additionally, it is vital to ensure that branches are evenly distributed around the trunk to promote balanced and stable structural development. Branches should extend outward from the trunk as they grow, and care must be taken to prevent any branches from growing over one another. There must be sufficient spacing between each branch to avoid major structural problems as the tree matures.
Training Pruning Service at Arboquébec
Our certified arborists have the expertise and skills necessary to perform impeccable training pruning while following best practices. They will prune your young trees with the utmost care. Their meticulous and high-quality work will allow your tree to grow with the best possible structure over the years. Our certified arborists can also provide guidance on the proper care for your tree during its early years to optimize its harmonious growth. You can also visit our website in the pruning section for additional information on the subject.
Sources:
https://www.siaq.org/media/1249/elagage-jeunes-arbres.pdf
https://www.routeverte.com/content/uploads/2018/11/Elagage.pdf