- 1). Put on work gloves to protect your hands when pruning the trees.
- 2). Pinch off 1/2 inch of new growth, or "candle," in the spring, when the growth extends to 2 inches or longer. This will encourage the new growth to grow thicker. Use your hands to pinch off the candle, since cutting tools can damage the tree's appearance.
- 3). Using pruning shears, cut off flower heads on flowering trees such as holly right after they flower.
- 4). Prune tree branches in winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant. Use hand shears to cut off branches 1/4 inch in diameter or less. Use lopping shears to cut branches 1 1/2 inches or less in diameter. Use pruning saws for larger branches, and use pole pruners for branches out of reach.
- 5). Thin branches by cutting 1/2 to 2 inches away from the trunk. When you thin branches, they typically will not grow back.
- 6). Shorten branches by cutting 1/4 inch behind a live lateral branch. These cuts will allow the branch to grow back eventually.
- 7). Double-cut branches thicker than 1 inch in diameter. Using a pruning saw, cut through half of the branch from the underside up, then finish the cut from the upper part of the limb down.
- 8). Cut diseased or infested branches several inches behind the infected area, and clean your tools with rubbing alcohol before using them again. Dispose of or burn the infested branches.
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