Well now, let’s talk about pruning ash trees. I ain’t no fancy tree expert, but I’ve been around trees my whole life, seen a thing or two, ya know? So, I can tell ya a bit about keepin’ them ash trees lookin’ good and healthy.
First off, when’s the best time to do this prunin’ thing? You don’t wanna go hackin’ at your trees just any old time. Folks say late winter or early spring is good, before the leaves start poppin’ out. That way, the tree ain’t all busy growin’ and it can heal up quicker. Makes sense, right? Like when you get a cut, you don’t wanna go around doin’ heavy work right away, you gotta let it rest. Same with them trees.
Now, what do you need for this job? Well, you gotta have some good tools. Can’t be usin’ no dull, rusty old things. You need somethin’ sharp, somethin’ that’ll make a clean cut. A saw, maybe some clippers, depends on how big them branches are. And for goodness sake, be careful! Them tools can be dangerous if you ain’t payin’ attention. Don’t want nobody gettin’ hurt.
So, how do you actually prune the tree? It ain’t rocket science, but you gotta know what you’re doin’. You can’t just go choppin’ off branches willy-nilly. You gotta look at the tree, see which branches are dead or lookin’ sick. Them gotta go. And if there’s branches crossin’ each other, rubbin’ together, you might wanna take one of them out too. They ain’t doin’ each other no good, just causin’ trouble.
- Look for dead or sick branches.
- See if any branches are rubbing together.
- Think about the shape you want the tree to have.
And when you cut, don’t cut right up against the trunk. See that little swollen part where the branch joins the trunk? That’s called the collar. You wanna cut just outside of that. That way, the tree can heal over the cut proper. If you cut too close, you can hurt the tree, make it easier for bugs and diseases to get in. And don’t go cuttin’ off big ol’ branches all at once. That can shock the tree, make it weak. Better to take it slow, do a little bit each year.
Some folks talk about this “three-step cut” for bigger branches. Sounds fancy, but it ain’t really. First, you make a little cut on the underside of the branch, a bit away from the trunk. Then, you cut from the top, further out on the branch. That makes the branch fall off without rippin’ the bark. Then you make your final cut, just outside the collar, like I said before. Keeps things neat and tidy.
Now, why do we even bother prunin’ these ash trees anyway? Well, it’s like givin’ ‘em a haircut. Makes ‘em look better, keeps ‘em healthy. You get rid of the dead and sick stuff, and the tree can put its energy into growin’ strong and healthy. And if you prune it right, you can shape the tree, make it look the way you want it to. A nice, full, balanced tree, that’s what you’re aimin’ for.
Pruning also helps prevent diseases from spreadin’. If a branch is sick, gettin’ rid of it stops the sickness from spreadin’ to the rest of the tree. It’s like when someone’s got a cold, you don’t wanna be around them too much, right? Same with trees, gotta keep the sick ones away from the healthy ones.
And don’t forget about fertilizin’ your ash trees. After you’re done prunin’, givin’ them some food helps them grow strong. Folks say a slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer is good. Just follow the directions on the bag, don’t go overboard. Too much of a good thing can be bad, ya know?
Now, I heard tell of somethin’ called pollardin’. Sounds complicated, but it’s just a way of prunin’ where you cut the tree back to the same spots every few years. Makes the tree grow lots of new branches, kinda like a big bush on a stick. Not everyone does it, but some folks like the way it looks. It’s a bit more drastic than regular prunin’, so you gotta know what you’re doin’.
So there you have it, a bit about prunin’ ash trees. It ain’t hard, but you gotta pay attention, do it right. Take your time, use good tools, and your trees will thank you for it. They’ll be healthy, strong, and lookin’ good for years to come.
And remember, always keep a close eye on your trees. If somethin’ looks off, don’t ignore it. Just like us, trees need a little care now and then to stay healthy and happy.
