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How To Prune A Pine Tree in 8 Easy Steps

Pine trees are easy to establish and maintain. They don’t need specific soil care to thrive, and they can even grow in bad soil. Pine trees are noted for reaching incredible heights.

They do, however, occasionally grow too large for the region where they were planted and required pruning. Therefore learning how to prune a pine tree is crucial as pruning is an important aspect of pine tree care.

This procedure involves removing the tree’s dead, diseased, and wounded sections. Pruning will improve the tree’s shape and size and help it grow thicker foliage. Late spring is the optimal time to prune pine trees. Prepare to prune your pine trees if you want them to stay healthy and attractive.

Unlike many other trees, pines (Pinus spp. and cvs.) must be pruned amid active shoot growth, whether they are trees or shrubs. New growth on a pine establishes buds for the following year’s growth every year. While the plant is still growing,

Trimming guarantees that the shoot has enough time to create new buds for the following year’s growth before the plant turns dormant.

How To Prune A Pine Tree
Christmas Tree Pruning – via Wikimedia

A Garden Guide on How To Prune A Pine Tree

One of the most attractive evergreens, the pine tree is a prized addition to any garden. The towering pine is known for its tremendous height and beauty, and it adds a shady canopy to your outdoor space as well as the fresh aroma of pine needles.

Let’s look at how to prune a pine tree to keep it neat and tidy while also preventing it from hindering the growth of other plants.

Trimming larger pines is best left to the professionals, but if you have a juvenile pine that needs immediate attention, it’s simple to do yourself. All you’ll need is some gardening equipment and the ability to follow a few simple procedures.

Things You’ll Need

  • Pruning shears for thinner branches
  • Loppers
  • Chain Saw (for thicker branches and large trees)
  • Pole saw
  • Extension ladder
  • Safety gear – gloves, goggles, long pants and sleeves, hat

How To Prune A Pine Tree: The Procedure

  • First, start by removing any dead or diseased branches.
    • They’ll be easy to detect because they won’t have any green leaves left.
    • Dead branches will be brittle and easy to snap off, and diseased branches will be covered in fungus or rot.
    • Use pruning shears for smaller branches and loppers for branches that are up to an inch in diameter.
    • Make sure to clip any sick branches away from the unhealthy part of the branch, around 6 inches away.
  • Next, take a look at the tree’s shape and identify any areas that need trimmed. Trim back your young pine’s branches by about one-third to encourage it to grow in a healthy, conventional cone form. The branches should be about 6 inches shorter than the stem in the center.
  • The goal is to maintain a natural shape for the tree, so avoid trimming it into a perfectly round shape. Make sure to trim branches that are growing in the wrong direction or are crowding other branches.
  • Ensure your pine tree’s branches aren’t rubbing against each other.
    • This is an unusual occurrence in pines, but one of the branches should be cut to safeguard the tree’s health if it does occur.
    • Rubbing creates wounds that allow insects and diseases to enter.
    • When pruning, always cut branches back to where they intersect with another branch – this is called a lateral.
    • Avoid leaving any stubs, as these will only invite disease and pests.
  • The crown is the topmost section of your pine tree. You should remove roughly a third of the crown of your tree every year when it is young. This results in thicker growth and more vibrant foliage.

Pruning the Candlings

  • Candling refers to the process of pruning a pine tree’s young shoots, which resemble candles. When the candles’ needles are about half the size of the mature needles on the plant, it’s time to prune.
  • Cut the candles to the length you want them to be. The tree will form buds below the incision, and new growth will sprout the next year, spreading out laterally. This aids in height control and lowers the space between whorls in the tree, giving it a fuller appearance.
  • Cut the growth back with hand pruners; if the shoots are still green and juicy, you can squeeze them to the proper length with your hand. From that moment, additional growth will arise next year. 

Things to Take Care While Pruning

Don’t prune below the sprouts if you wish to delay or minimize future growth in that part of the tree. Because new growth can’t sprout from old wood, trimming below either of the developed whorls will result in a dead stump below the cut.

Cut all the way back to the thickened area near the trunk or the collar while removing a branch. If you’re cutting a branch with a diameter of greater than an inch (2.5 cm), avoid cutting it from top to bottom, as this will remove the bark from the trunk whenever the branch breaks free.

Be cautious while working with a chain saw; always use the correct protective gear and be aware of your surroundings. If you’re not comfortable using a chain saw, consider hiring a professional arborist to do the job for you.


Final Remarks

Pines are one of the easiest trees to care for since they have a naturally clean shape that rarely needs to be adjusted.

The only reason you’ll prune pine trees is to repair damage caused by extreme weather or vandalism. If you wish to promote a compact growth habit, pruning is the approach you should use.

Any time of year is a good opportunity to prune to repair the damage, but it’s best to prune pine trees in late spring when they’re actively growing.

While it’s preferable to deal with broken and twisted branches as soon as possible, you should avoid pruning in the late summer or fall if at all possible.

Late-season cuts won’t have enough time to heal before the cold weather arrives. Pruning cuts are not protected from the elements with wound dressing or paint. Allow the tree time to heal before winter sets in.

Pinch back the candling, or new growth tips, in the spring to give a pine tree a compact, dense growth pattern. Hand-break them at approximately the center.

Cutting them with shears causes the needles to be clipped and turn brown. Shortening the branches of pine trees is usually a last resort.

Trying to cut into the woody section of a branch might stunt its growth, making it appear stunted over time. It’s better to remove any damaged branches thoroughly.

Now that you know how to prune a pine tree, it’s easy to keep your evergreen looking neat and tidy – and healthy, too!

Follow the simple steps mentioned in the guide, and your pine tree will be the pride of your garden. If you don’t have much experience or have a huge tree that requires attention, it’s best to hire a professional.

Professional tree trimming services will have the necessary equipment and experience. You can also rest certain that your tree is in capable and experienced hands.