Tree pruning

Winter is a good time of year to be pruning your grapes. So I've included a short video on how to prune your grapes.[Note: you should never prune your grapes after they have budded out or they will bleed to death.] For additional information keep in mind that your local government extension office can provide you with advice and answers about your livestock and crops. The service is available to anyone, and can provide advice on livestock as well as farm and garden crops.http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

If you have any questions feel free to post them in your comments and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Pruning trees

This time of year in northern Nevada were thinking about planning our garden. We should also be thinking about pruning our trees, shrubs and grapevines. Pruning should be done before plants bud out. You have until about the middle of March to get your pruning done. You should also keep in mind that this is a great opportunity to get some free trees and shrubs by propagating the cuttings. Propagating plants is easy if you know how. The first step is knowing which plants can be easily propagated by cuttings. Deciduous trees and shrubs(plants that drop their leaves in winter) are the easiest to propagate. Before plants bud out, I will take cuttings from those plants I wish to duplicate. Cuttings should be no bigger than your finger and no longer than 18 inches for best results. Cutting at an angle just below a bud makes your bottom of your plant cutting. Then measure up 18 inches and just above a bud make a straight cut for the top of your cutting. Place this cutting in a jar or tub of water, with the water just below the last two buds at the top. The stem that is exposed to the water should develop roots within one to two weeks. Be sure to change out your water daily for the cuttings or they will begin to rot instead of root. An other method you can use when the weather is warmer and the soil is workable, is digging a trench to place your cuttings in. The last two buds should be above the ground. Be sure and keep the soil damp but not soggy and in one to two weeks you can dig up your cuttings. At this point you should have roots on your cuttings and you can replant them where you want them. Note: Tag your cuttings so you know what plants you are rooting. It also a good idea to keep track of which plants you took the cuttings from, so you know which ones did well.

free trees version 3.1.wmv

This is a video I did on getting free trees from cuttings. An updated video will be done as soon as weather permits. It should be noted that not all cuttings will root using this method. If your cuttings do not root, and the cuttings are still alive, try using a rooting powder and bury them in the ground. Be sure to leave one or two buds above the ground and keep  soil damp but not wet.
    For further information on tree or plant propagation check your local library.  They are a great source
of information and usually are free to the public.
   Other sources of information are your local http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ it may also be a good place to to buy inexpensive windbreak trees and shrubs. But keep in mind that you may have to order in advance and buy in larger quantity. Also be sure to use a good pair of bypass shears like these. I have a pair of these shears and they have lasted me many years.The investment in a good pair of shears is well worth the money and if oiled at the end of each season should last a lifetime.
  Also be sure to use a disinfectant wipe in between each plant that you are working on so as not to spread disease.