Pruning
/ˈpruːnɪŋ/
Definition
Pruning is the horticultural practice of selectively cutting off plant parts, usually stems, branches, shoots, flowers, or roots. Unlike general trimming, it targets specific tissues or growth points to change a plant’s structure, size, or growth pattern, or to remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing growth. It is used on trees, shrubs, vines, houseplants, and some herbaceous plants, with cuts placed to direct regrowth from buds or branch junctions.
Practical Relevance
- Control of branching: By removing shoot tips, pruning can reduce apical dominance, the hormone-driven control of the main stem over side buds. This often encourages bushier growth and a fuller canopy.
- Flowering and fruiting effects: Timing matters because many shrubs and trees form flower buds on either old wood or new wood. Poorly timed pruning can remove buds, while correct timing can improve light exposure and fruit quality.
- Plant health management: Removing dead, damaged, or diseased stems helps limit entry points and spread for some pests and pathogens. Better air movement through the canopy can also lower moisture around leaves and stems.
- Structure and size guidance: Pruning helps shape young trees and shrubs so branches are better spaced and less likely to rub or split later. It is also used to keep plants within the space available indoors or in the landscape.
Related Terms
Pinching
Pinching is a pruning technique that removes the soft growing tip of a stem, usually with fingers or small snips…
Topping
Topping is a pruning technique that removes the main growing tip, or apical shoot, of a plant. Cutting off this…
Pollarding
Pollarding is a pruning technique for certain trees in which the upper branches are cut back to the same framework of…
Terminal bud
Terminal bud refers to the bud at the very tip of a stem or shoot. It contains the shoot apical meristem, a region of…