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Deadwood

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1613 -- More Projects »
Not all gardening tasks are glamorous. In fact, most of them aren't. They range from the mundane, such as weeding and spreading mulch, to the downright laborious, such as digging trenches and hauling stone. One of the least glamorous of all gardening chores is dealing with deadwood.
PHOTO

Figure A
PHOTO

Figure B
If you have a lot of trees and shrubs in your yard, chances are you often have deadwood. That's because the branches of trees, even the healthiest ones, occasionally die and often for no apparent reason (figure A).

Often the lower branches of a tree or shrub die first, often because their leaves can't capture any sunlight through the thick canopy above. However, deadwood can appear just about anywhere on the plant.

Deadwood can also be a sign that the plant is already in trouble due to a variety of reasons, including drought, disease and pest damage. Upon careful inspection, you may determine that the plant needs to be removed completely.

It's best to prune out deadwood (figure B) because it may eventually harbor pests or become ravaged by disease. Both can threaten the health of an otherwise healthy tree. Strong winds can sometimes be your friend in the battle because they help bring down deadwood. For large limbs, consult a certified arborist to do the work.

Also in this Episode
Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1613
•Bonsai
•Inspired by Nature
•Biodynamic Gardening
•Deadwood
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