Identifying Growth Buds for Proper Pruning

Pruning cuts are made near a growth bud. Resulting growth varies by bud type. Learn three bud types for desired effect.

• Terminal bud: At shoot tip, causes elongation. Produces hormones moving downward, inhibiting other buds on that shoot.
• Lateral buds: Along sides of shoot, produce bushy sideways growth. Dormant until shoot lengthens enough to diminish terminal bud's hormonal influence, or terminal bud is pruned off. Removing lateral buds redirects growth to terminal bud—shoot lengthens dramatically, tends upward.
• Latent buds: Dormant beneath bark. If branch breaks or is cut just above a latent bud, it may develop a new shoot to replace lost wood. For repair, find latent bud and cut above it.

Important tip: Unless shearing a hedge, don't make random cuts into stems/branches. Stem often dies back to next growth bud. At minimum, erratic growth; at worst, plant death. Even few such cuts cause unsightly long sprouts.