To prune or not to prune? This is a question that faces gardeners often. Most feel they ought to, but are not sure why or how. Pruning is accepted practice for the orchard, fairly frequently carried out in the rose garden, but rather haphazard elsewhere. Most often it is only performed when a shrub or tree begins to encroach on its neighbor, a path, or a building.

Pruning is often looked upon as the answer to make a barren tree fruitful. Carried out correctly, it will -- eventually. However, years of neglect cannot be rectified in one season. The unknowing pruner who cuts because he or she thinks that it ought to be done but does not know how often ends up with no flowers or fruit at all, due to excessive pruning or carrying out the operation at the wrong time of the year.

This chapter explains the reasons for pruning, the proper techniques and tools to use, and when various types of plants should be pruned.