What is Pruning?
Pruning is cutting of aerial part of the plant for following reasons:
- Removal of weak, diseased and criss-cross branches.
- Canopy management.
- Make branches stronger.
Materials required:
- Secateur
- Pruning Saw (Hard pruning)
- Bordeaux mixture/Fungicide
How to do pruning:
- Remove inner branches of the canopy to allow more light & air penetration within the canopy.
- Annually cut the weak, dead, diseased and over lapping branches after harvesting.
Ensure the following:
| Always use sharp secateurs and saw for cutting branches. |  |
| Disinfect the implements regularly. |  |
| Collect and dispose all plant debris after pruning. |  |
| Apply Bordeaux paste @ 1:1:10 on cut surface or spray copper oxy chloride @ 2gms/litre after pruning on the same day to prevent any fungal infection. |  |
How to make Bordeaux Paste?
Preparation of Bordeaux Paste (1:1:10)
- Copper Sulphate 1 kg, Quick Lime 1 kg, Water 10 L
- Mix lime in 5 L of water & leave overnight
- Crush the Copper Sulphate crystals into powder and dissolve in 5 L of water in a plastic bucket.
- Pour the Copper Sulphate solution into the lime solution, slowly stirring the mixture all the while with a wooden stick.
- Test the mixture before use for the presence of free copper, which is harmful to the plant, by dipping an iron in it. If the iron shows copper colour/film on it then the solution is ready for use.
- Apply the paste on the cut ends of trees with a brush.
Making of Bordeaux Paste YouTube Link:
Image Source:
- https://www.jaganhardware.com/falcon-anvil-prunner-economy-m3-lg0157.html
- https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/tri-edge-13-turbo-saw
- https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/bordo-mixture-2512092391.html
- https://www.wikihow.com/Disinfect-Gardening-Tools#/Image:Disinfect-Gardening-Tools-Step-10-Version-2.jpg
