This brutal winter will take a break one day. Care should be taken that the urge to do something,anything outside might tempt us to prune our trees and vines before its time.
Pruning trees and vines should be delayed, if possible, until mid to late February. Even then we should watch the forecast should more bitter cold be lurking.
Pruning cuts, even those made during winter cold, stimulate a growth response in trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Though not visible to us, the healing response to a cut is real and the hormonal change and cellular division makes the area around the cut more tender and vulnerable to injury.
This should not deter you from necessary pruning. An unpruned tree will be less productive and an ugly tree can be made more attractive by proper pruning. Just be patient and prune at the proper time.
Rake those windblown leaves and pull the dead grass from the beds. Enjoy those rare pleasant mid winter days.
One of our projects this winter is a pruning video. Keep an eye out for it
Farmer Dave
