How to lift a tree canopy
Prune dormant trees and shrubs to lift their crown or promote flowering – Arit Anderson explains how
January is the month that sits on the cusp of the new growing season. Across the country, winter dormancy is still evident, with many regions still experiencing frost or even snow. But as the month goes on, daylight is slowly on the increase and time is ticking on this season.
I enjoy the stillness of this time of year, when most of the garden is still in slumber. There’s the gentle hum of winter-flowering plants doing their utmost to keep our interest in the garden. The perennials left standing from the previous year are patiently waiting to start back into growth in the new season to come.
The natural reduction of energy in the garden means it’s the perfect time to prune some of our beloved plants. In particular, the focus needs to be on the summerflowering shrubs that rely on the current year’s growth. It’s also the last chance to do any pruning of grapevines, as they can bleed sap if it’s left any later, which can weaken them.
As we are still technically still in winter, now is also the perfect moment to crown lift deciduous trees, removing some of their lower branches. As they have no leaves, it’s much easier to see and assess their structure.
CUTTING AWAY some of the lower branches from the trunk is a great way to show off a tree’s attractive bark. Do this pruning job gradually, over a few years, until you are happy with the result.