‘Coffee with a Forester’ Shrub and Tree Pruning workshop coming to Ogallala

“When do I prune my new tree?” This question is often asked as people want a tree for their yard; one that will do well, grow quickly, has healthy leaves and provides all the benefits we’ve come to enjoy from a shade tree or conifer.
But another question quickly follows for newly planted trees, “how do I prune my tree?”
Robbie Kupper, president of the Ogallala Garden Club found an opportunity to not only address this topic on trees but also shrubs, questions that residents in the Ogallala area want to know.
    Kupper, also a member of the Ogallala Tree Board, visited with Chrissy Land, community forestry specialist with the Nebraska Forest Service to get this Coffee with a Forester workshop going—a program offered to residents across the state interested in landscape and tree care education.
    Robbie asked for information about pruning shrubs and trees, important maintenance to the health of these often long-lived plants in the landscape.
“The Garden Club is inviting the public to their meeting on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. We’re planning to provide this great information for all interested persons,” shared Kupper.
    She knows this question and others will be answered which will help people learn the proper pruning techniques to improve the health and structure of their trees and shrubs.
Land noted, that “often overlooked, shrubs provide
many benefits to our land-scapes. Whether companion plants with perennials and trees, offering shelter and food for birds, bees and butterflies, shrubs can be a wonderful addition to our homes and communities.”
Land goes on to explain that it is important to not only recognize the bloom time of the shrubs to determine pruning, but also the growth habit.
“Suckering shrubs perform best if the old canes are pruned back to about six inches above the ground rather than top them off at the height of the window, which is when there is nothing left to work with and the shrub declines from the old stagnant wood that is being worked on,” she said.
While pruning trees and shrubs will be covered at this workshop and information provided, the actual best time to prune trees is during the late dormant season, late winter or early spring (between February and April), before bud break.
    According to Rachel Allison, southwest district forester and coordinator of the workshop program, proper pruning develops a good terminal leader and scaffold branches, improving the structure and health of the tree.
Pruning is a process to take out lower, co-dominant branches that often can take over as the leader and lead to future problems in the tree form. Proper pruning can greatly improve a tree’s appearance, its health and vigor, while poor pruning techniques can lead to rot and early decline of the tree.
“Pruning when the tree is young is very important; determining the terminal leader and working with the competing side branches will help to eliminate future problems when the tree is older,” explained Allison.
People with questions about their trees and shrubs, can attend and find out more about them.
    People are asked to pre-register to make sure there will be enough handouts. Contact Robbie at 308-289-6051. Registration is free.
The workshop will be held Nov. 4, 7-9 p.m. at the Petrified Wood Gallery, 418 East 1st Street, Ogallala.