How to Prune

The branch collar is the zone where the branch meets a stem. The collar contains special cells that allow the plant to heal the pruning wound on its own. The branch collar is usually easiest to see as a bulge or wrinkled bark at the base of a large branch, but even small branches have branch collars. 

When you make a pruning cut, always leave the collar. Place your pruners immediately above the branch collar area and make one straight cut.  Avoid chopping cuts.  If your pruners cannot make one cut, use larger pruners, loppers or hand saw. A cut above the collar will leave a stub, which is an open invitation to diseases and pests.

A stub is a short, unsightly and soon-to-be dead branch piece left when a cut was made above the branch collar or bud.  Stubs are sometimes called “coat hangers” and should never appear on trees and shrubs.  Always cut stubs back to the branch collar to allow proper natural healing of the wound.

Note: Always wear safety glasses when pruning overhead.  Falling branches, leaves, sap, dust, twigs, and dirt can permanently damage your eyes.

1. Wipe pruner blades with rubbing alcohol before pruning each plant.  If you are pruning diseased limbs, wipe pruners between each cut to prevent the spread of the disease.
2. Remove all dead or damaged stems, limbs and stubs.
3. Remove any branch that crosses over another so they do not rub together.
4. Remove one or more upper canopy branches to open light tunnels.  This allows light to penetrate into the inside of the plant to encourage growth on the inside stems.
5. Prune at a leaf node in a discrete area so cuts are not readily visible.
6. Finish by tip pruning for an attractive appearance.
7. When pruning latex bleeders, such as Ficus or Euphorbia, quickly apply tissue paper to fresh cuts until the bleeding stops.

Palms

1. Remove canes from Chamaedorea, Neanthe bella, and Bamboo as they become leggy to encourage the growth of new canes.
2. Prune the tops of Chamaedorea to slow height growth as they start to drop older lower foliage.  Do not do this on other palms.

Dracaenas and Multi-Stemmed Plants

1. Prune to maintain size and lower growth.
2. To encourage new heads to grow on Dracaena prune growth heads back.  Choose one stem and cut it back to about 1 inch above the soil line.  This will maintain dense lower growth.
   Note:  This must be done before the plant becomes leggy.
3. Prune Marginata and Reflexa anywhere along a stem to start a new head at the desired height. 
4. When lower leaves of multi-stemmed plants become leggy due to light limitations, pinch off tops of about 1/3 of the branches to allow more light to enter the center of the plant.

Cacti and Succulents

1. Prune for size and shape.
2. Prune for upright growth and balance.
3. Prune the top of aloes when they become so long that they begin to vine or to drape over the sides of the container.
4. When pruning latex bleeders, such as Ficus or Euphorbia, quickly apply tissue paper to fresh cuts until the bleeding stops.