The humidity is finally gone!
It’s been a brutally warm July! Thermometers all across the state nearly burst as last week’s heat wave rolled through. Now that the heat has passed it’s time to get back outside and start picking weeds and pruning trees to make sure your greens soak up all the energy that the summer sun has to offer. Here is a checklist of the most important things to get done in your yard and garden during the months of July and August. And be sure to read our Pruning Guidelines for a quick recap of the proper way to prune your plants and trees.
Summer is only a week away! Remember these tips for the summer season.
South Dakotans are having a hard time believing that the spring season is almost over! Temperatures are still lingering in the 70′s and rain is in the forecast almost every day this week. Not to worry though, summer is scheduled to arrive next Tuesday, June 21! And along with the warmer weather and growing greens comes a big checklist of things for you to get done around your yard and garden. We’ve included some great resources on this site to help you keep your garden and yard colorful and healthy all summer long. Check out the following articles that cover the most important topics for the summer season, and get back in your garden!
Tree, Shrub and Evergreen Pruning Guidelines
Tree, Shrub and Evergreen Pruning Guidelines
Proper pruning is vital to long term plant growth. When pruning any tree, start by cutting out broken, dead, or diseased branches. Next, focus on the tree’s structure, size, and shape. Focus on removing competing branches or co-dominant leaders (branches in the center of the tree fighting to be the tallest). Two competing leaders can easily serve as a breaking point as the tree matures. When pruning, make close (but not flush) and clean cuts. Minimize stubs that encourage decay and canker. If left un-pruned these areas may serve as a source of injury to the parent branch or trunk. Finally, prune with moderation, removing branches only when there is a very good reason for doing so. Heavy pruning can upset the balance between wood growth and root growth, and on fruit trees, can result in loss of crop. Follow these general pruning practices for trees, shrubs, and evergreens:
