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Pruning....which ways do stems grow back

Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
in Plants
Hi there
i have googled the life out of this one but i cant understand the articles!
Underneath is my drawing of a tree
On point A , if i cut off the bit circled, where will any new bits grow?
Same for B ....if i just cut straight across a branch , will it continue to grow in the same direction again later please?
sorry for being so dozy!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,971
    Look at where the buds are on the branch.
    If where you were planning to cut there's a bud just before the cut that's pointing to the right - that's where the new growth will go and it will grow to the right.
    If you don't want it growing to the right, but to the left, then look for a bud on the left and cut just after that.
    Generally avoid cutting back to a bud that's underneath.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    Pete...oh, its all In the bud direction then! Got it, thanks! So unless bud is pointing straight forward , which i guess it never is, its not just going to carry on growing straight then....I didnt realise that.
    I better be careful just nipping ends off things without a careful eye in the future then...like my plants straight up n down n orderly!

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    And don't ever do 'B' if there are no buds or sideshoots to cut back to as the whole branch may die back and disease may well enter which could go on to affect the whole tree.  If that is the case, standard practice is to remove the whole branch back to the trunk.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,971
    Basically that's it.
    Bob's point is important too.

    Not as important, but worth bearing in mind is that a plant (realistically trees and shrubs etc) will always give preference to whichever bud is highest on any branch (known as apical dominance) as the higher the bud, the more sunlight its likely to get. Which is pretty much why plants literally reach for the sky.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Theresa May NotTheresa May Not Posts: 109
    Bob, thanks for the info...this site is fab , and the replies are clear which is great.Pete 8 thanks for your extra tip...i love learning this stuff!
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