PRUNING AND NAILING HARDY CLIMBERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 6, 5 August 1908, Page 40

PRUNING AND NAILING HARDY CLIMBERS.

In many instances the greater portion of this work will be done already; but there are many persons who do put off different kinds of work as long as possible; and where the pruning and nailing

of hardy climbers has still to be attended to, the work should be carried out without delay, because there will be a vast amount of other work to attend to later on. Deciduous climbers are very deceptive in appearance during the winter months. Their leafless branches do not seem to be too much crowded, but when they are clothed with beautiful leaves the latter often suffer through overcrowding. It is easier to arrange and manipulate the branches at the present time than later, when the young shoots are growing freely. The illustration shows how the pruning or thinning out should* be done. First remove any extra strong, sappy shoots, unless such are required for filling up vacant spaces, then cut other shoots which cross main branches, as shown by the dark lines in the sketch. Keep the centre of the tree open and neatly fasten all the remaining branches to the wall or trellis, without using too many ties, nails or shreds. A oung climbers newly planted, should be so fastened to the wall that the shoots will grow and fill the vacant space from the bottom upwards. Jt Jt