whats the logic behind pruning after buds swelling?

[barrosinc]

It doesn't make sense to me, so please help me out.

As I see it with deciduous trees, the "energy" during winter is stored in the roots but then it starts pushing from the roots (makes sense to root prune at this time) to the branches and the buds swell, but all the branches are full and you chop them of hard, why?!

 

[Neli]

It depends what your objectives are and at what stage of development your tree is.
In theory you should get explosive growth and serious back budding.
Read Brents evergreen gardenworks articles...lots on this there.
If I recall well what he said is that, the tree stores energy and prepares for X amount of buds to develop...if you prune it, you reduce the number of buds while the stored energy remains the same...as a result you get explosive growth with long coarse internodes...and some more backbudding.

 

[0soyoung]

It doesn't make sense to me, so please help me out.

As I see it with deciduous trees, the "energy" during winter is stored in the roots but then it starts pushing from the roots (makes sense to root prune at this time) to the branches and the buds swell, but all the branches are full and you chop them of hard, why?!

First, real energy is stored in living cells throughout the tree as starches. In essence, all energy storage is local.

There are two major periods of root growth, one in the spring (aka 'as buds swell') and the other in late summer and/or early fall after shoot extension has been completed. Most any temperate specie can be root pruned before or in the early parts of these periods because the roots will recover quickly.

Branches can be pruned at most any time, but the effect varies depending on when it is done. Pruning deciduous when the 'buds swell' is just an easy convenience. We always prune deciduous at some time of the year when it doesn't have leafs simply because it is easiest to see the branch structure. You could prune in the dead of winter. Doing so makes the tree vulnerable to invasion by pathogens (though many point out that the pathogens are dormant then too). Pruning earlier, but after leaf fall gives time for the living cells to (self-)seal the wounds. Nevertheless, some twigs/branches may die-back during the winter. So you may need to prune again, and retarget the structure of your tree, in the spring. So, 'why not wait until spring and do this all at once' is, IMHO, the reason to wait until bud swell.

 

[Neli]

Also Smoke has a nice article on pruning in autumn...Dont recall the link...maybe he can add it.

 

[Poink88]

As you alluded to, it is the right time for the roots and timing them (root work and pruning or chop) together helps balance the tree resources from top to bottom.

When no root work is done. Pruning triggers growth...if you do it earlier (like fall and winter)...the tree may wake up earlier. In really cold areas this could lead to the tree's death.

Too late and you waste the energy into something you will remove. This too can stress the tree a lot.

Proper timing really matters a lot.

 

[barrosinc]

Thanks everyone!

I feel like this:

 

[barrosinc]

my teacher insists in root pruning now! what to do!!!
What can go wrong if I do?

She says it helps the plant create some roots before growing vigorously.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The safest and wisest time to root-prune a maple is just as the buds are swelling in the spring. I don't know your climate, but suspect it's a bit early...?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Neli,
It is nice to see you reference the Brent Walston articles as I believe I pointed you at them once upon a time. I might have to go check them out again for some pleasure reading.

Smoke, I'd like to gander at your fall pruning article as well.

Thanks,
David

 

[M. Frary]

I cut back before buds open but as they swell for all of the reasons Neli cited but also to make sure it made it through winter. Ain't no sense cutting back a dead tree.

 

[Neli]

Neli,
It is nice to see you reference the Brent Walston articles as I believe I pointed you at them once upon a time. I might have to go check them out again for some pleasure reading.

Smoke, I'd like to gander at your fall pruning article as well.

Thanks,
David

He he he! David, thanks!
I have them downloaded...and I think I know them now by heart...
Love Brent's teachings.