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mowtown
30-08-2011, 07:49 AM
Just wondering if anybody knows a good book on pruning ? everything from natives to citrus/fruit trees,roses,etc
cheers steve

Bluey
30-08-2011, 08:14 AM
PM David S Mowtown. He knows his stuff on this

Stump
30-08-2011, 08:26 AM
Hi Mowtown, there is heaps on youtube about pruning. Its not all that hard really. Generally speaking, prune around a third of whatever your pruning each year. Dont cut right back to the oldest wood on the tree unless the branch is not required. Try and cut down to just above a new shoot where possible.
With fruit trees, you cut off any rubbing branches, and de-clutter the centre so that air and light can get in. Any small inward growing branchlets near the centre can be cut off, and any damaged, cracked or sick branches, get rid of. I usually end up cutting about a quarter of the top off too. Best to prune fruit trees and roses etc in late winter. Prune natives after they flower, or at the beginning of the growing season (early spring/early autumn.)
With bush roses, I cut plenty off the height, then almost hollow out the centres, leaving a series of "fingers" pointing upwards. Just remember the main point of pruning is to let light in to promote new healthy growth. If you keep that in mind, along with removing around a third, you cant really go wrong.

Andy B
30-08-2011, 10:32 AM
Try op shops for cheap second hand books. ;)

4 Gardens
30-08-2011, 10:01 PM
I keep the following in the ute

The Royal Hort Society
Pruning and Training
by Christopher Brickell and David Joyce

Its a great reference guide for shurbs, trees, roses and climbers as well as topiary and more

PaulG
31-08-2011, 12:03 AM
Another good one to consider - the best I've come across for a while.

Pruning for Flowers and Fruit by Jane Varkulevicius

http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6347.htm


Also a good webpage that covers the basics. It is North American but the principles are still the same.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/landscape/pruning/pruning.html

Also agree with Andy. You can get some great books - new and old - at the op shops. I've scored some good ones recently.

DavidS
31-08-2011, 06:53 PM
I use " Pruning A practical Guide" by Rodger Elliot, it tells your when and how to prune most trees and shrubs, it has specialised sections on Roses, Climber's, Fruit trees, Ferns, Cycads and Palms It also gives you a basic idea why we prune and how to prune, it describes the different parts of the plants so you know what to look for to prune. I would highly recommend this book to all gardeners. It was a book used by my TAFE teacher back in about 1995.

Scooby Steve
31-08-2011, 07:49 PM
I use " Pruning A practical Guide" by Rodger Elliot, it tells your when and how to prune most trees and shrubs, it has specialised sections on Roses, Climber's, Fruit trees, Ferns, Cycads and Palms It also gives you a basic idea why we prune and how to prune, it describes the different parts of the plants so you know what to look for to prune. I would highly recommend this book to all gardeners. It was a book used by my TAFE teacher back in about 1995.

Sounds like a great book David, regarding gardening books where is the best place on-line where you can buy them cheap any idea's? Or failing that any stores anybody can recommend where you can do the same.

Andy B
31-08-2011, 08:51 PM
After searching for Pruning A practical Guide by Rodger Elliot it must be good, can't find a copy for sale anywhere!

PaulG
31-08-2011, 08:56 PM
http://www.booktopia.com.au/gardening/cWM-p1-l0.html

Most of the bookstores, QBD, Dymocks etc can order specific titles if you know details like title, author, publication date etc. They can also tell if something's no longer in print.

PaulG
01-09-2011, 12:49 AM
Thought I'd throw this in here. Just some general info on Natives.

http://austplants.com.au/pdf/Pruning_Guide.pdf

DavidS
01-09-2011, 05:57 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Pruning-Practical-Guide-Lothian-garden/dp/085091552X $15.00 plus freight to Australia.
This book is written by a Australian and includes Natives.

mowtown
01-09-2011, 05:54 PM
thanks again everyone , will try all the above , thanks stump , sounds straight forward when you explain it like that . have been weeding 6 hrs tuesday and 4hrs again this morning and got a bit of RSI in my right hand so i was too tender to use keyboard ! pussy i know ! 11 chaff bags full ! thank christ that jobs done ! a good payer though ! i think i'll have tmrrw off . being a newbie , i have too work on my fitness . don't wanna rush it though ! off to the fishing and tackle show . cheers

Bluey
01-09-2011, 06:19 PM
It is good to sit back after a hard job and think well that was worth it. Hand weeding takes it out of you no matter how fit you are. I reckon is is one of the worst jobs. That's why I charge lots for it. I love those customers who say "oh and can you just weed out that bed" as if it is a minor thing.

DavidS
01-09-2011, 07:49 PM
One comment on Stumps advise which is really good, If you want new growth on Citrus trees prune in Winter, if you want to shape a Citrus tree prune in Summer. If you prune in Winter the growth will go mad leading into Spring, if you prune in Summer the mad growth spurt has finished.
I get a lot of my books from Amazon and the Co-Op bookshop which is part of Sydney Uni, become a member and get an additional 10% discount.
Yes they are great clients Bluey, you don't have anyone else to go to today !!!! I usually tell them I will do what I can in the time I allocated for the job I turned up for.

Kathryn
02-09-2011, 01:54 PM
the are 3 stages of learning how to prune
the first is when you are new to gardening and are scared to cut too much off
the second is when you start to think you know what you are doing, get cocky and cut too much off
the third is when hopefully you are finally getting the idea of when to hack and when to tip prune.

Woodsy
09-12-2011, 08:48 AM
I have my first pruning job tomorrow. I have a tree that needs to be thinned out. Has a lot of dead branches with no no greenery on them. Would I be right in thinking that they can come off? Research suggests to cut just above the "collar" where the branch connects with the rest of the tree.

I also have to prune a couple of Bird of Paradise plants. These are about 5 feet high and 3 feet wide. The owner has only requested the old flowers be removed, but she was a little vague. Should I be suggesting to remove more of the plant?

I also have to cut back a couple of trees, including a fig tree, from growing over the fence onto her neighbours property. These I will just try and trace back to the closest junction I can see on her side of the fence.

Went to Bunnings the other day and purchased a set of Cyclone loppers for this job. Paid $65 for the one's with telescopic levers.

http://www.cyclone.com.au/products/cyclone-2/telescopic-ratchet-bypass-lopper

Is there anything I need to be aware of before I start cutting away this ladies tree? Can I do any major damage? I have pruned my own trees before, but want to get the paying customer's job done well.

PaulG
09-12-2011, 09:00 AM
Nothing major to worry about Woodsy. Just make sure the cuts are nice and clean with no tears to the bark. A hand-held pruning saw would be good to have as well, as loppers by themselves won't always get the job done due to different timber hardness.

Re the first tree, cut or snap a couple of the leafless branches first to see if they are in fact dead. I don't think there should still be any dormant deciduous trees around in Adelaide. Also check that there's no pests on the tree causing the problem.

Sounds like she just wants the BOP deadheaded. Just trace each flower spike back as low as you can and cut off with a good sharp pair off secateurs. Unless she specifically asks I wouldn't be worried about reducing the size of the clump. It's time consuming and if you use the wrong implement, ie chainsaw (the quickest way), it can leave the cut stems looking very shabby and torn.

Woodsy
09-12-2011, 09:14 AM
Thanks for the reply, always a good contributor Paul.

The pruning on the tree is more to thin it out and increase the height of the canopy.

She wants nothing to do with the BOP because of the many spider webs on it. I'm not a big fan of spiders, so hopefully I don't jump out of my skin if one jumps out at me.

DavidS
09-12-2011, 04:17 PM
Woodsy,
If the branches to be removed are to big for loppers, then undecut branch with a saw near the trunk and then top cut it a bit further out from the trunk so that if the branch falls if you can't support it, it will not tear the bark. Then make final cut just outside of the collar. Bird of Paradise just cut as low as possible down stalk and any dead leaves same thing, throw all on a tarp spread on ground near you and then just pickup tarp at all four corners and cart it to your trailer.

Woodsy
09-12-2011, 04:20 PM
Thanks David. I've used the tarp tip before on a couple of bigger clean up jobs. A very good tip, which I have also passed on.