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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Man critically burned in trailer fire Asante's physician groups not charities, judge rules Morning freezes could spell disaster for early blooms 10 things to know for Monday Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Missing teen possibly seen in Florida Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Economists project 'kicker' rebates Nation - World Obituaries Harvey Franklin Bauers Lois Gunsolus Wilson Donald Max Long Betty E. 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Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Letters to the Editor Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Columns Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work 'Big' government is not so big after all Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Sunscreen Steelhead and Flat Earthers Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining It Is What It Is: Girls just wanna have fu-un Food Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Man critically burned in trailer fire ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Man critically burned in trailer fire ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune Comment By Betty Montgomery The Spartanburg Herald-Journal MailTribune.com By Betty Montgomery The Spartanburg Herald-Journal Posted Feb. 18, 2015 at 8:52 AM By Betty Montgomery The Spartanburg Herald-Journal Posted Feb. 18, 2015 at 8:52 AM » Social News Pruning is a task that is beneficial for trees and shrubs to keep them healthy and vibrant. This is also a task that many of us, me included, are nervous about performing. The garden is at its most dormant period in late winter, making it a good time to prune. There are many reasons to prune: to remove dead or dying branches, branches that cross one another, branches growing toward the middle of the tree, suckers growing out at the base and branches growing at a tight angle. Thinning out the top of the tree to let air move through the branches and let light into the plant also is recommended. Sometimes the crown needs to be raised by cutting lower branches, as well. Be careful while doing this and do not remove too many branches when the tree is young or the tree will have a funny shape for several years until it recovers. Trees are stronger if they have a central trunk. To achieve this, it means shortening the competing branch or branches leaving the remaining branch to develop into the leader. There are some exceptions to this rule. Trees such as crape myrtles and river birches, which are grown for their interesting bark and are pruned to develop multi-trunks, do not follow the same rules. Winter pruning is ideal for hardwood trees. Cut the branches just above the branch collar. This is an area just above where the branch joins the tree. You can often identify it by the wavy bark as it joins the tree. If you cut right at the trunk, the tree will not heal as quickly as it will if you cut just above the twists of wrinkled bark. When the branch is cut properly, nature will heal the wound. You can wait to prune trees such as redbuds, dogwoods and crabapples because of their lovely spring flowers, but I usually prune these now, too, because I do a better job when there are no leaves on the tree. However, you can lightly prune spring blooming trees just after they bloom. To remove large branches, you will need to make several cuts to avoid damaging the bark or having a large limb fall and hurt you. Cut off the end of the branch and then work your way back toward the branch collar, making several cuts along the branch. When you get closer to the branch collar, cut smaller pieces until your cut is made at the right point above the branch collar. Now is also a very good time to prune cedars, junipers and other evergreens while they are still dormant. If you have unwanted lower branches on evergreens, prune in late winter but go easy because evergreens are less forgiving than hardwoods. I would not cut lower branches unless you are certain you want them removed. Some evergreen trees will not put out new growth below the lowest branch of green needles. I visited the Byron Richards garden in Hendersonville, North Carolina, last year. They have an incredible collection of evergreen trees and shrubs. They told me that every tree and shrub in their collection received some kind of pruning every year. Pearl Frye, the owner of a topiary garden in Bishopville, also prunes all his specimens several times a year to make the shapes he is looking to have. However this is not necessary unless you want some kind of specific shape. Pruning shrubs is more shrub-specific; therefore, you need to know more about each plant. I am asked more about pruning shrubs than any other question. I will write about pruning shrubs in my next article. By Betty Montgomery The Spartanburg Herald-Journal MailTribune.com By Betty Montgomery The Spartanburg Herald-Journal Posted Feb. 18, 2015 at 8:52 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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