THE GARDEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 482, 21 June 1890, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

[By Hortus.]

Pruning Transplanted Trees and Shrubs.

More or less pruning is required on the branches of all transplanted trees or shrubs. This is necessary in consequence of an almost certain loss of roots in lifting the plants. Even where the roots are nearly all retained it is well to do a little pruning of the branches in order that when the sap begins to rise in the spring, the roots will nob be called upon to furnish as much sap as would be required so as to put in motion all the buds which the tree was posseesed of before it was lifted. The parts of the ; roots which have been cut off have lost all f the small fibres, and ib is those alone which | have the power to find and send up nutn- j ment for the proper development of fruit or leaf buds, and the pruning of the upper branches of a tree or shrub brings about a better balance of roots for finding food and leaf buds for developing such as it is sent up the tree. Whenever the roots begin to get a fair start and grow, they will at once cause a corresponding action on the wood or leaves by causing them to grow or expand at the same ratio a 3 the roots, so that the sap may be elaborated as it reaches the buds. Thus by a little judicious pruning of the branches a healthier balance is kept than by leaving all the branches on newly transplanted trees. Also recollect that when pruning it is a good plan to reduce considerably the branches of such trees and plants as you wish to make a rapid strong growth next season. Where such heavy pruning of branches has taken place, the larger balance of power is left with the roots, consequently when the sap begins to rise there are only a few outlets left for it to act upon. Those few outlets thus being heavily pushed by the rising sap, very soon develop leaves, and will grow very rapidly until nature provides sufficient buds to take all the sap quietly and naturally as it rises. Again, when pruning transplanted trees or shrubs that you do not want to make strong, rapid growth, the very opposite course should be adopted. The pruning in these cases should only be moderate, as by doing thus you will leave more outlets for the sap to develop wood and leaves, consequently the flow of sap to those parts will not be so strong as if a heavy pruning had been given. Hence the less rapid generation of leaves and wood. The inexperienced sometimes, object to pruning transplanted trees, thinking that it will mitigate against the success of the planting. This, however, is a fallacy. As soon as the roots of a tree are all cut and the tree lifted, all upward action of the sap ceases for a time; in fact, a downward action of sap at once sets in. This action is in accord with natural laws. The downward action is to repair damage done to the roots. The sap at once flows to the cut parts, causing them to heal rapidly, and also to push out new roots. Some people like to prune immediately after lifting the plant, bub I think this course in injudicious, as the sap in any of the limbs or branches cut off is lost to the plants. I always prefer to wait, if possible, for about a month or six weeks after the tree is lifted before pruning, as by thus waiting all the sap will have left such portions of the tree that are to be cut away. This sap will have gone to the roots, thus giving the roots all the benefit possible from the sap which was in the tree when lifted.