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PAGE 16, WEDNESDAY. JULY 2.1986. WHITBY FREE PRFSS Lawn ardn M£dciurtcr PROMOTE GROWTH - The correct time to prune depends on the flowering season of the species, its growth habit and your specific reason for pruning. A sharp, properly set saw is required for the larger cuts and will do a better job for any size of cut than even the best pruning shears. Pruning paint, which was once a common recommendation, has heen found to be of no benefit to the process of wound closure. photo by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food). CATCH TED WATSON'S STNAWUERAY EXMfESS PICK YOJLM OWN AVAILABLE SDON PEAS, SNOW PEAS, BEANS AND RASPBERRIES 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. CROP REPORT 623-7252 24 Hrs. Ready-plcked Strowburrles alan avallabls (Retail & Wholesale) FREE WAGON RIDES Faria W0 DISCO The art- and science - 'of pruning Proper pruning can be the best thing for your trees and shrubs; improper pruning can be the worst thing for them. "Pruning is both an art and a science," says Hor- ticulturist Ruth Friendship of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural organizations and services branch. The Ilartist" in you will prune to retain or restore the natural formn of the plant. The "lscientist" in you will p rune to remove dead and/or diseased branches, stimulate flower and fruit development, control the plants overal size, and to improve the plant's structural strength, health and vigor. There is no ideal time to prune ail plants. "The correct time to prune depends on the flowering season of the species, its growth habit and your specific reason for pruning, she says. Generally, late winter or early spring is the best time to prune deciduous trees, some vines, roses and certain shrubs; at these times of the year the plants have no leaves and that makes it easier to decide where to prune. At these times, there is also less danger of damaging the bark. Fruit-bearing trees should be pruned just after they have leafed out. On the other hand, spring; flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia should be pruned after flowering. (This is because these plants pro- duce their flower buds on the growth of the previous season). By pruning at this time, you won't destroy prospec- tive blooms and it allows the plant sufficient time and space to grow and produce flower buds for next year. Shrubs that flower on the current year's wood, such as hydrangea, should be pruned before they flower. Late faîl to early winter is the poorest time to prune because the wounds may not close during the winter mon- ths. But avoid pruning in late summer because this could stimulate growth which won't be able to 'harden off" before the cold winter temperatures strike. As with any gardening task, it is important to use suitable tools and equipment. Special equipment and ex- pertise are needed to prune large trees SO you might be wise to hire a professional for these large jobs. But small trees can easily be pruned. A sharp, properly set saw is required for the larger cuts and will do a better job for any size of cut than even the best pruning shears. A pruning saw should be used wherever possible. Hand pruners should be light, sharp, properly set and of good quality. Long-handied pruners can speed a pruning job but they tend to leave stubs so use these selectively. "«The choice of tool is a matter of personal preference, but remember to keep your tools sharp and properly adjusted to make dlean, flush cuts," she says. Pruning paint, which was once a common recommen- dation, has been found to be of no benefit to the process of wound closure. Therefo re it is not necessary to use pruning paint - except for cosmetic reasons. If you do decide to paint the wound, use a thin coat of some commercial material prepared for this purpose. Do not use house paints. Apply the wound paint only to the wound; painting the bark ail around the trunk can kili the tree. Ail pruning cuts must be made so natural processes will heal the cut surfaces completely and not con- tribute to the death of the bud immediately below the cut. "There is a slightly-raised ridge of bark on a branch called the branch collar which is the tissue separating the branch from the main stem. This can be used as your guide to proper pruning," she says. Place your saw or shears in front of the ridge and cut downward and slightly out- ward. This results in removal of the branch without injury to the main stem. By leaving the "collar", there is less chance of infec- tion. "Flush cutting" or cutting through the branch collar makes a larger wound than necessary and slows down wound closure. This type of cut often results when chain saws are used for pruning. Prune deciduous trees to have a more or less --open" centre. Branches that grow in- wards and those that are in contact - rubbing and wear- ing each other - should be removed. This allows the tree to grow to the outside and upwards, where it will be exposed to the maximum amount of light. Remove watersprouts and suckers to encourage the growth outward and up- wards. Always consider the man- ner of growth and climatic conditions for best pruning results. Because few evergreens produce new buds on wood more than two years old, prune evergreens mainly on new wood or on the previous year's wood, early in the growing season up to mid- summer. Allow enough time for the new growth to 'harden off" before winter sets in. Spruce, pine and fir should be pruned shortly after the new growth has begun in the spring. And restrict your prunîng to the new growth on- ly. Prune junipers by cutting back the branch to a heaithy lateral branch. Pyramidal or central trunk evergreen trees should be pruned only to remove dead or overlapping branches. Trees with double leader branches should be pruned to one terminal leader, while the tree is young. Do not prune the terminal leader of an evergreen tree unless the leader has been. damaged.. (If it must be removed, it should be replaced by a lateral trained to grow up- wards). NURSERYV14T». AND GARDEN CENTRE f or alyourgardening needs PANSIES SPECIAL- .75e W. stîli have a large varlety of qualîty plants. Annuals & Perrenlals àA *""I427-2525 KI'SLAGRUN WITH THRE 5,000 SQUARE -Plk"'Duuîei O .ri&Sve a Lt Familles Welcome \MONTH FOOT LOT ilT PiîckRd Walharsuppîq.. O1on8A.m 8..MndythSaeurdLo \SERVICE,,'\ SIZE j No2 Hwy -Whilby Wfro 9 a.m. 8 .m. M . aythSu da ~10 Btng ontaners nteasured in quilles (ag. 0 qi. bkii, Payground provided for cilidrmn 12 yenre aid. AVAILABLE AqD. 401 tAINTON s - 1l RUT N I ýAXA E 7 a * "- -. NO. WIITBI STRAWBERRIES PICK YOUR OWN EVERY DAY S8 A.M. TO 8P.M. Zdauaowicz READY PIC KED 668-550%-FNFR MOR Dring Containers or Purchase et Farm N.W. 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