Crown Pruning Effects on Roots
University Outreach Publication
Tree growth and development are dependent upon a few basic mechanisms. These mechanisms are responsible for the tree making holistic adjustments to a changing external environment. These basic mechanisms also allow for correlation of processes internally. One means of understanding tree reactivity to external and internal changes can be partially visualized in shoot/root interactions. Once the basic mechanisms of how whole trees (not individual parts) react to change are delineated, additional impacts such as pruning can be better understood.
Trees are complex organisms with highly evolved sense and respond systems. Because the tree as a whole is too complex to comprehend at a functional level, we must use simplified models to understand tree reactions to change. We will review in a very basic manner how trees control their own growth and how this growth control changes internal resource allocation patterns. Then we will examine how pruning of living tissues in the crown of the tree can directly and indirectly influence the roots.
(Third European Congress of Arboriculture) May 1997
K.D. Coder
2004
Warnell School of Forest and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Athens, GA (US)
9
Biology (tree), Growth, Maintenance Specifications
International
ABA, Auxins, Cytokinins, Growth regulator, Pruning, Roots, Tree biology