Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Sunday November 29, 2009 |
Heather, Scotch (Calluna vulgaris) | Today's Featured Plant
Heather, Scotch (Calluna vulgaris)
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Q&A: Repairing Broken Tree Branch Question: How can I repair a large broken branch on a maple tree?
Answer: You can't repair it; the best thing to do is prune it back to its main source, probably the trunk. To make a proper pruning cut, do not cut the branch off flush with the trunk. Cut just beyond the branch collar, a slightly raised area where the branch and trunk meet. At this point, the tree's own meristematic tissue will seal the pruning wound. It's the tree's natural healing system. The proper way to prune a large branch is to make three separate cuts. The first two are to eliminate the weight of the branch and prevent it from tearing bark down the trunk of the tree, which is unsightly and also allows diseases and pests an entry. 1. Start with an undercut (cutting from the underside of the branch upwards) about 8 to 10 inches from the trunk, but cut only about halfway through the branch. 2. About 2 to 4 inches further out on the limb, cut the branch off from the top to bottom. The undercut prevents the bark from tearing as the limb falls. 3. Now that the weight of the heavy branch is off, make a clean, smooth cut just past the branch collar. Don't apply any sealants to pruning cuts. Research shows that sealants will not prevent decay and actually interfere with the tree's healing ability. There are a few exceptions to this rule when certain diseases or insects are a high risk; for example, rose borers and oak wilt. |
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Q&A: Pruning Honeysuckle Shrubs Question: We have a honeysuckle shrub that is growing like crazy. It almost looks like a tree by now! Have we waited too long to prune it? What can we do to bring it down to a manageable size?
Answer: There are many kinds of honeysuckle, some shrubby and some climbers. Of the shrub types, all can be kept below eight feet in height with judicious pruning. Since yours seems to have gotten away from you, you can prune it back hard in the spring, just before new growth begins. Reach way inside and remove some of the oldest growth as you prune to shape. Cut back the stems that have flowered, and remove any tangled, non-productive stems. New shoots will develop at the crown of the plant to fill in the gaps. If you plan to reduce your honeysuckle in a major way, you might want to take two or three years to complete the renovation. Otherwise the plant may not recover very quickly. Honeysuckles are vigorous growers and should be pinched and pruned throughout the growing season to keep help them in shape. Some are used as hedges and are sheared back annually. Experiment a little with your plant to see how it reacts to pruning. Then you can develop a pruning schedule to keep it looking its best. |
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Tip: Feed Birds Most birds such as grosbeaks and nuthatches prefer black oil sunflower seeds in a bird feeder. Ground feeders such as sparrows, and juncoes prefer cracked corn scattered on the ground. Woodpeckers and chickadees appreciate suet hung in a wire basket. |
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Wine and Dine Daily Video Learn to make chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting, spring rolls, and even a classic mint julep. They're all easy with free videos from ArcaMax's new Wine and Dine Video Ezine!
Every day, this ezine will help you get creative with everything from appetizers to after-dinner cocktails. It even includes video profiles of restaurants and cooks from around the country.
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-- From the ArcaMax editors |
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