CH Pruning and Plant Training 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of pruning saw is most appropriate for removing branches 1–3 inches in diameter in tight spaces?
- Bow saw
- Curved blade folding pruning saw (Correct answer)
- Chainsaw
- Two-man crosscut saw
Correct answer: Curved blade folding pruning saw
A curved-blade folding pruning saw cuts on the pull stroke, fits into confined canopy spaces, and is sized for branches up to about 3 inches.
Question 2: Lion-tailing, an improper pruning practice, refers to:
- Removing only the tips of all branches
- Over-thinning interior branches so foliage only remains at branch tips (Correct answer)
- Cutting all branches flush with the trunk
- Removing the central leader
Correct answer: Over-thinning interior branches so foliage only remains at branch tips
Lion-tailing strips interior foliage leaving tufts only at branch ends, which reduces photosynthetic area, increases wind-sail leverage, and leads to branch failure.
Question 3: For roses, what is the correct pruning angle and direction to promote healthy new cane growth?
- Straight horizontal cut, any direction
- 45-degree angle cut sloping away from an outward-facing bud (Correct answer)
- Vertical cut directly above a bud
- 45-degree angle cut sloping toward a bud
Correct answer: 45-degree angle cut sloping away from an outward-facing bud
A 45-degree angled cut sloping away from an outward-facing bud sheds water away from the bud eye and directs new cane growth outward for an open, vase-shaped habit.
Question 4: Pleaching is a tree-training technique that results in:
- Trees pruned into cloud shapes
- Interwoven branches forming a hedge on stilts or overhead canopy (Correct answer)
- Trees grafted onto a single rootstock
- Compact, low-growing forms through root pruning
Correct answer: Interwoven branches forming a hedge on stilts or overhead canopy
Pleaching weaves or ties together branches of adjacent trees to form a living fence, overhead canopy, or 'hedge on legs' for formal garden structures.
Question 5: Which ANSI standard provides guidelines for tree pruning practices used by professional arborists and horticulturists in the US?
- ANSI A300 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z133
- ANSI B18
- ANSI C57
Correct answer: ANSI A300
ANSI A300 is the industry standard for tree care operations, including pruning specifications, while ANSI Z133 covers safety requirements for arboricultural operations.
Question 6: Renewal pruning of overgrown deciduous shrubs typically involves removing approximately how much of the oldest canes each year over several years?
- All canes at once
- One-third of the oldest canes annually (Correct answer)
- Only tip growth each season
- Exactly half each year
Correct answer: One-third of the oldest canes annually
The one-third renewal method gradually replaces old, unproductive canes with vigorous new growth over three years without shocking the plant.
