Cut It Out!

Thoughts on Pruning

I’ve been pruning our vines and fruit trees, trying to encourage them to put their growth energy in the best directions to bear quality fruit.  When I prune a tree I cut out dead and diseased limbs, as well as branches that point in, point down and those that crowd other branches. This opens up the interior of the tree to allow light to shine in and air to flow through. Branches that shoot vigorously up are trimmed to stimulate side branching. The aim is to balance, concentrate, and focus growth, resulting in larger, healthier fruit.

Careful pruning enhances growth. Isn’t that what we strive to do with our kids?  When we see them going in an undesirable direction or getting out of balance, we try to “nip it in the bud.” I often feel the benefits of pruning myself–like when I display some disagreeable behavior and someone calls me on it. “Cut it out!” they might say.  That’s what we are doing with our fruit trees, grape vines and berry bushes…and one another. Snip, snip snip…