To Prune Or Not To Prune

This quandary perplexes many gardeners this time of year.  New growth looks so fresh and bountiful, especially on deciduous trees.  Too much new growth can also obscure the structure of a tree.  Suddenly, folks are just looking at a blob not a handsome tree.

So, how much new growth should one prune?  Should one make larger cuts?  The solution is not instantaneous; spring pruning should be minimally invasive.  Limiting cuts to smaller outer branches is probably wise.  Quite a bit can be accomplished with small hand held shears.  Save the big cuts for next winter. 

Hint: take pictures now so it is easier to remember how dense a tree can be with all its foliage!  And  enter the picture in Wildwood's Spring Photo Contest.