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"Prune my yard trees?" the old fanner snorts. "Heck, they prune themselves!" And it isn't just one old farmer. Lots of heedless home owners take the same view. Of course, they are quite right, too. Nature does see to it that trees shed members that have become excessive or shaded out or badly damaged. The forest floor is strewn with kindling wood. But the very fact that Nature does so provide only proves that pruning is necessary. Without question, man can do a better job. When a tree "prunes itself" the resultant stub, or an open scar on the parent member, seldom heals entirely unless it is quite small. Left as an entry for insects or fungus is an exposed area of inner tissues through which invasions will spread for years to come. Through such lesions the tree loses moisture by evaporation, or takes in water where it does not belong, causing decay. The only perfect seal is scar tissue, called callus in trees, put out by the cambium layer. Man's surgery can help callus growth close over more quickly and surely than in Nature's casual sloughing-off process. |
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With a little understanding and fond effort, man can improve
on Nature.
