"An illustrated guide to pruning, second edition"

Edward F. Gilman
2002, 330 pgs., Delmar Publishers, Albany, NY ISBN 0-7668-2271-0.

Table of contents:

  • Chapter one: Introduction
  • Chapter two: Plant selection and management: the best way to minimize pruning needs
  • Chapter three: Tree structure
  • Chapter four: Tree biology
  • Chapter five: Pruning cuts
  • Chapter six: Pruning tools
  • Chapter seven: When to prune
  • Chapter eight: Nursery shade tree production pruning: developing the trunk and leader
  • Chapter nine: Nursery shade tree production pruning: developing the canopy
  • Chapter ten: Developing special forms on young plants
  • Chapter eleven: Structural pruning in the landscape: objectives
  • Chapter twelve: Structural pruning in the landscape: execution
  • Chapter thirteen: Pruning types on established trees
  • Chapter fourteen: Considerations for maintaining special sites and trees
  • Chapter fifteen: Standards and specifications
  • Chapter sixteen: Shrub pruning

Exerpt from the preface:

One of the most rapidly expanding areas of plant care in landscapes is pruning technology. This new found interest is do to increased number of plants installed in landscapes and a new awareness by the general public and by professional arborists and horticulturists that proper pruning can influence plant quality, growth rate, longevity and aesthetics. Though there are many basic texts written about pruning, there is a need for one that is extremely well illustrated that also includes more advanced techniques and protocol.

The basic and advanced techniques presented in hundreds of illustrations, photographs and charts will bring a new technical understanding to students and professionals alike. Nursery operators, arborists and landscape maintenance professionals will find this an indispensable guide for training and sales. In addition to all of the common techniques, instructors will find that this text presents many new ideas and technology that are just beginning to emerge in the green industry.

Foremost in the text is an examination of which stems and branches to remove from trees and shrubs to effect change in their architecture. This is the essence of pruning and the cornerstone of preventive arboriculture. Special care has been taken to present highly technical topics such as nursery pruning and structural tree pruning in a comprehensive yet understandable manner. Less focus is placed on orchard fruit tree production and conifer pruning because there are fewer pruning issues on these plants. Detailed illustrations are used throughout to present all major topics. Many readers will find that they can gain tremendous insight simply by reviewing the illustrations and charts.

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