Trident Maple Bud Pinching:

What?
Bud pinching refers to eliminating undesirable buds that emerge anywhere on the tree before they become active. Bud pinching also includes the removal of the end of a growing shoot or bud at any location as soon as it is long enough to grasp with the fingers and remove.

How?
Generally bud pinching is done with the fingers. Sometimes forceps, leaf cutting clippers, or pruning shears are used.

When?
It is to be done continuously during the growing season, usually from February to October with cool greenhouse trees. Whenever a new shoot develops it is a potential candidate for pinching. Anytime a bud arises in an undesirable location it can be removed.

Why?
To control the form of the tree. Pinching stops the growth of a branch temporarily and stimulates the growth of branches further down the limb and tree. Combined with leaf pruning it controls the amount of food and growth hormones available to the branch. Judicious pinching will result in:

• primary branches that decrease in diameter and length, from the ground upward;
• primary and secondary branches that are thicker and  longer at the trunk end and thinner toward the branch tips;
• short internodes throughout the tree--fine and abundant ramification, a network of many small branches;
• alternate, rather than opposite branching throughout the tree;
• stimulation of adventitious and nodal budding. Adventitious buds, buds between the nodes, lie dormant throughout the trunk and branches of Trident Maples;
• reducing or eliminating the need for unnecessary branch pruning at a later time;
• growth directed in desired directions.

Bud Pinching] [Branch Pruning] [Leaf Pruning] [Repotting]