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Show t j i t L f 's me for pruning shears By KRIS JOHNSON Staff Writer FARMINGTON Spring is just around the comer, which j means it's time to pull out your 1 pruning shears. I Pruning is a technique which I involves removing certain parts I of a tree in order to regulate its I shape and bearing habits. The I quality of fruit is greatly I enhanced when a tree has been I pruned, according to the Utah I State University Cooperative Extension Services (USUCES). I The USUCES developed some I general rules for pruning: j Prune all fruit trees at J planting time to balance the tops with the roots. Cut about 12 inches in-ches above the height where the lowest branches are desired. Train young trees in the first few years after planting to avoid corrective heavy pruning later. Prune young trees lightly. Prune mature trees more heavily, especially if they have shown little growth. Prune the top portion of the tree more heavily than the lower portion. The best time to prune is early spring just prior to the beginning of active growth. Low temperature injury is the major risk with fall or early winter pruning. Summer pruning causes more dwarfing of the tree than dormant pruning. If a dwarfing effect is desired, then summer pruning may be practiced. In controlling mature tree size, it is essential to accurately regulate the supply of nitrogen to the tree. Excessive nitrogen can result in vigorous growth and more pruning. Pruning stimulates shoot growth, especially near the cuts, but reduces overall tree size. When removing large limbs, first cut part way on the underside, then cut flush with the main limb. Do not leave stubs. There is no particular advantage ad-vantage in applying a dressing to wounds under two inches in diameter. A wound dressing applied ap-plied to larger wounds aids in the healing process. Various asphalt -emulsion and polyvinyl acetate base plastic types of wound sealing compounds are available at garden and hardware hard-ware stores. It is better to leave a wound unpainted than to use a paint developed for another purpose, which might be toxic to live tree bark. |