In Spain you will find different species of native pines, but in general it can be said that pines are part of the vascular, coniferous and pinaceae families. There are many people who have pine trees in their garden and want to learn how the pine pruning.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you how pine pruning is done, what are the steps to follow and what aspects must be taken into account.
Key features
Pines tend to grow in mountainous areas, but because they don’t require many nutrients, they can be seen in almost any terrain, forming small forests. In the mountains, its roots adhere to the stones and are capable of supporting the entire weight of the tree on steep cliffs or cliffs.
It has male and female flowers, which are characterized by never being on the same branch. Each branch bears only flowers of the same sex. Pine leaves are pointed and thin, the fruit of this tree is called pineapple and the seeds are pine nuts.
All this is very good, but there is no doubt that in Spain the pine is closely associated with Christmas. Who has not seen a tree decorated with balls and garlands?
When should a pine tree be pruned?
Like other conifers, pine trees need to be pruned depending on the environment and location. We can decide to prune pines in any of the following situations:
- Lodgepole pines are at risk of being uprooted or falling over.
- Very dense pines that hardly let the light through.
- The pines are badly oriented aesthetically or planted in inappropriate places.
- Sick pine attacked by pests.
- Pine trees can affect certain building elements and adjacent properties as they grow.
We must distinguish between pruning and felling. Felling may also be considered necessary, but only if there is not enough space or if the tree is at risk of falling. To prevent felling, it is advisable to use specialized techniques to hold down the trees and treat them to strengthen the trees and their roots.
Main aspects of pine pruning
Pine trees begin to be pruned when they are at least 6 years oldand the best time to prune them is late summer and next fall. If we can in summer, we expose the tree to insect attack, more specifically beetles, during the summer months. On the other hand, if the pruning is done in the coldest months, that is, in winter, there is a good chance that we will lose strength and even die from the tree.
It is recommended to start trimming from the bottom and work your way to the top. The first branches to remove are those that are dry, in poor condition or sick, do not forget the branches that grow in the lower part, eliminating the latter we thicken the trunk. If you are interested in your tree having a beautiful aesthetic appearance, you must pay attention to the proportions and not let the height exceed two thirds of its base.
As with all trees, pruning is very necessary as it keeps the specimen in better condition and prevents the tree from falling due to being overweight or not allowing air to circulate properly inside. Air circulation is more important than it seems, as it prevents pests from settling inside. Of course one of the reasons for pruning the pine is aesthetics. A pine is a very beautiful tree, even more so when professionally pruned.
How is pine pruning done?
To prune a pine you have to do it from the bottom up, removing the branches that are born too low from the trunk and working along those that have dried up in the lower crown due to lack of light.
The first pruning is recommended between 6 and 8 years of age in pines. During the first pruning, the lower branches are usually trimmed, which will help increase the thickness of the trunk and make the crown thicker and more vigorous.
If the pine is in a place where there is enough space, only the dead branches should be pruned, the canopy should be removed, and the sunlight will enter the lower branches, allowing them to grow freely and show their beauty. The best time of year to prune a pine is in late winter, so that the pine can quickly heal wounds on its trunk.
Here we give you some steps that you must follow to learn how to do pine pruning:
- Avoid pruning the pines if there is forecast of rain or snow, as there may be a risk of insects or fungi appearing.
- Start trimming at the bottom and work your way up to the top, or at least the top you want to trim.
- When it comes to pruning a pine, in addition to the branches that were born at the base of the trunk and the lower part of the trunkyou also have to remove the branches that have dried. This will thicken the trunk and make the canopy more vibrant.
- Remove branches and leaves from the canopy as well so that sunlight reaches the lowest points as well.
- Always use sharp pruning shears and cut at an angle. more recommended in the case of pine.
- Never prune pines that are less than 6 years old. It needs to be older than that or it may not be able to withstand the effects of pruning.
- Aesthetically, the most desirable pruning is two thirds of the height of the trunk without exceeding the viewing angle.
Types of pruning
There are 3 limits to the intensity of pruning that a pine can withstand without damage. It is not possible to cut a trunk longer than a third of the living crown of the pine tree at the same time. No living canopy of less than one-third of the total height of the tree may be left, and no more vertical leaves may be cut in pruning than the number of years since the last pruning.
Pine branch pruning should begin when the diameter of the tree is not too large, and thinning to clear lower dead branches. The first pruning of a pine requires careful guidance by our pruners on the selection of pines to be pruned and the limits of pine pruning.
- Maintenance pruning: Pine maintenance pruning is divided into two broad categories, progressive maintenance pruning of its lower branches by pruning more interior or shaded branches, and sparse pruning of the pine crown.
- Rejuvenation pruning: One of the hallmarks of the pine aging process is the imbalance between the aerial system and the root system, which ultimately fails to meet the demands of the pine canopy. Trim low, shady branches to redirect nutrients to the top of the pine.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about pine pruning and its characteristics.
