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Winter ice and snow damage-back to the harsh realities of winter. Ice damage will need to be addressed so that your plants look great again in the shortest time possible. For now, just cut off limbs cleanly so there are no tears in the limbs' bark. ALWAYS use sharp tools. Shaggy tears have the potential of harboring disease and insects and improper healing. So---clean cuts.
In the spring you may need to do this again if more tissue has died back. Get in the habit of pruning by making 45 degree cuts and preferably about 1/4 inch above the intersection of limbs. Looks more natural than just blunt cuts. No need to apply any salves, tars, etc. Air dry the wounds. That roll of bark you see around large tears on trees is an indication that a plant has healed. That won't happen for a while, though.
You may want to check out Harris' very popular pruning class this spring. See our line-up of Spring classes and check out our Walk & Talk classes. In the Pruning for Smarties class Harris covers proper pruning of trees and shrubs (you don't want to cut off this year's flowers) to roses, perennials and even rejuvenating ground cover. Once you understand pruning, it should be easy, fast, and actually fun. I think pruning is very therapeutic. Which reminds me of Lorena Bobbitt? Only kidding--- somtimes I can't control my fingers on this keyboard.
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