- 1). Remove any badly damaged branches right away, but wait until early spring to remove minor damage. In spring, you can identify branches that broke or cracked under the strain of winter snow buildup. Springtime also allows for quicker regrowth around the tree's crown if you need to prune close to the trunk, according to plant patholgist Bruce R. Fraedrich, Ph.D.
- 2). Inspect your junipers for visible signs of damage. Junipers are evergreen trees, so they retain their coniferous leaves year-round. If you notice leafless branches, these are dying and should be pruned to preserve nutrients for healthier branches.
- 3). Prune undesired branches at the nearest "branch junction" if you want to fully remove the branch. Branch junctions are the natural Y-shaped splitting points of a branch. Pruning directly at these junctions will remove the branch without fostering quick regrowth. This manner of pruning works well if you want to completely remove branches for a more even tree size and shape.
- 4). Cut away dead or dying branches about 1 or 2 inches below the decay if you want the branch to regrow faster. Regrowth at a pruning site occurs more quickly with basic, midbranch shearing. Just make sure you fully remove the decay, always cutting below the dying portion into the healthy stalk.
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