The recommended time to prune a mature tree in the landscape is during its dormant period. In the Midwest, that generally means late fall and early spring.
But at Loma Vista Nursery, we prune trees that are at the start of their lives. We grow 1.5- to 4-inch caliper field-grown trees at our 650 acre-farm south of Lawrence, Kan. and 7- to 30-gallon young container varieties on 310 acres in Ottawa, Kan.
Hector prunes Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) at our tree farm.
Strong Branching Structures
We prune in-ground and container trees when they are young to maintain a strong central leader. We stake every tree to promote strong central leader growth. This supports tree health and creates a pleasing appearance.
Our strict pruning schedule runs from April to September. Maintenance pruning continues through fall and in early spring. Pruning trees when they are young is part of the nurturing process at our operation. It works in tandem with supporting healthy root system development below the soil. This practice ensures production of full, uniform trees and helps maintain strong branching structures.
Early staking helps Presidential Gold® Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba ‘The President’) develop strong leader growth.
Reinforcing Form
Clean cultivation removes and destroys any problems that may ultimately deter tree health. Using hand pruners and saws, proper techniques include cleaning off the bottom branches of the leading trunk and then shaping the tops to reinforce the tree’s form. It is better to fix any issues in shape and form when a tree is young.
Trees will grow improperly and won’t be presentable if they are pruned incorrectly. Once mature, you can try to fix form, but doing so will leave marks and the tree may not look presentable. We also keep an eye on the weather. Pruning at temperatures below freezing will damage the tree.
At our nursery, Ryan and his team shape the tops of potted Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor).
Healthy Tree Commitment
Loma Vista Nursery is committed to healthy trees and plants, strong customer relationships, employee success and industry involvement. Our central Midwest location increases distribution access to major markets including Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Omaha and St. Louis. We are certified to ship plant material to all 50 states.
For more information about our in-ground and container trees – as well as our landscape shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials – visit www.lomavistanursery.com.
Learn More About Landscape Plants from Loma Vista Nursery
Loma Vista Nursery’s staff members are experts in the field. We love helping people learn and understand more about healthy plants that perform well in Midwest landscapes. For more information, visit our plant catalog. Feel free to email us at sales@lomavistanursery.com or call us at (785) 229-7200 to get answers to your plant-related questions.
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