Haircut spruce - it's easy!
Detailed instructions for cutting spruce.
How to cut a spruce? Sometimes, in order to get the correct conical shape of spruce, it needs to be cut. It is also necessary if the spruce grows in a small area and there is no possibility and place for its growth in width and height. spruce can be given any shape, but it is worth taking into account the peculiarity of crown growth and trying to fit the desired shape into an imaginary triangle or cone, thus you will avoid most mistakes in its formation. With the help of a haircut, you can keep its growth in check by cutting off the leading shoot, but at the same time, if for some reason the spruce stops being cut, then it grows a new top and continues to grow with a pronounced leading shoot. When cutting the leading shoot, do not forget to keep the sides of the plant with a haircut, otherwise, after removing the leading shoot, the plant enhances the growth of lateral shoots, and you will get a large cushion-shaped plant instead of a cone.
When to cut a spruce?
The ideal time for cutting spruce can be considered the moment before the awakening of the growth buds, since after a haircut, after a while, the needles cut with scissors will turn brown and the spruce will acquire some brownish color. Therefore, before the awakening of the kidneys, the best time for pruning, the newly grown shoots will close the damaged shoots and the plant will again become decorative. Sometimes corrective spot pruning is allowed after the growth of new shoots.
With regard to weather conditions, it is necessary to choose a clear, preferably sunny day, without wind and atmospheric residues. The temperature is also important, pruning should be carried out at least +4 degrees Celsius. How many needles to cut?
Is it possible to cut a spruce on your own without experience? Yes, you can, but you need to follow a few rules. You can cut no more than 30% of the needles, since any haircut is stressful for the plant. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the depth of the cut, especially on adult large plants. Sometimes, cutting too deep, you can get to the branches without needles, and thereby create a hole in the crown, and they overgrow very poorly on conifers. It is necessary to cut with a clean, sharply sharpened tool. the first haircuts are best done with pruning shears or hedge trimmers, the next, when the shape has already been shaped, you can use an electric brush cutter. During the initial cut, try not to leave stumps, as they usually dry out and are food for various fungi that do not favorably affect the entire plant as a whole.
The main haircuts
There are two ways of cutting: spot, blind haircut.
Spot shearing involves cutting each individual branch into one kidney. It is used at the initial stage of formation, when there are still few branches and there are not many shoots growing. This may be the upper part of the conifer.
Blind shearing is carried out by cutting all young annual shoots with curb shears or a brush cutter. In the process of such a haircut, the location of the kidneys is not important. Thus, hedges and large geometric shapes are formed.
Caring for coniferous plants after shearing
Before cutting, take a closer look at the plant. It should be healthy, with good growth and bright greenery. If the plant has a lot of diseased or dry branches, looks dull, it may not survive pruning or endure it very painfully.
After shaping, conifers are fed with growth stimulants or adaptogens. The needles are treated with Epin, and the soil with Zircon. The shorn parts of spruce are great as mulch, or to cover plants for the winter.
Before cutting, it is advisable to water the spruce, this will simplify the haircut, branches with good turgor are cut easier and the plant will recover from stress faster.
It should be borne in mind that some types of coniferous plants are poisonous. These include some arborvitae, yew and juniper. Therefore, do not forget to use garden gloves when cutting. It should also be remembered that the resin that is released during the haircut and gets on your clothes is washed off with great difficulty.
Upon completion of work, all tools should be washed with hot soapy water and wiped dry.
Detailed instructions for cutting spruce.