Scissors v. Fingers

[awarrenj]

I see references for using scissors for certain pruning and finger plucking for others. What's the difference? ( I know the difference between fingers and scissors ) But what difference to the tree, if any? Are there occasions when one form is better than the other?
Thanks

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

It depends on the plant and the type of tissue you're cutting off, and the resulting wounds. Scissors don't crush tissue, fingers do (unless you pull, which I do for spruce).
On a juniper you can nicely slice along a crotch and leave a nice edge with no stub. On a maple, it's OK to leave a stub, and I think that crushing tissue doesn't matter a whole lot.
People say pruning foliage with your fingers on junipers leaves a couple damaged scales, but I've seen scissors do the same, so I prefer pulling here too, which should leave no damaged scales at all.

If you want to leave nice wounds that require little healing because the plant is slow to heal, use scissors.
If you have a plant that doesn't care about wounds and easily recover from wounding; fingers are easier.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Finger pinching. Random places. Juniper.
If it shows, it won't be much and not all over. Usually on a wild grow that sticks out of the design.

 

[sorce]

Gotta grow the proper tools before the trees.





Sorce

 

[August]

Gotta grow the proper tools before the trees.

As a nail-biter that picture makes me sweat. I have been trying to develop at least one good finger nail... for scratch tests

 

[sorce]

for scratch tests

Say No to scratch tests!

One, especially compulsive ones, can learn what is dead and alive with a brisk walk around yoinking on branches. Observe the difference between what breaks easily and what doesn't.

We tend to leave a (forbiddenly) scratched tree in hope for longer than it takes to learn to observe what is dead anyway....

So Do Not scratch.

Just as we don't slice open our lethargic pets, we shouldn't wound our trees.

I believe more than half forbiddenly scratched trees ended up dying due to the scratch.

With observation, the difference between dead and alive is like night and day.

Scratching is for DJ's.

And rookies!

Sorce

 

[August]

@sorce well said!

I have a new perspective on this now. I ought to challenge myself to get better at telling with a look. Scratching has been one tool in my toolbox, there are definitely other things I look for. Though recently I have been fooled by some dead yet springy twigs!

Maybe theres some resources on this somewhere... sure would help

 

[awarrenj]

Thanks for the insight

 

[dbonsaiw]

I see references for using scissors for certain pruning and finger plucking for others. What's the difference? ( I know the difference between fingers and scissors ) But what difference to the tree, if any? Are there occasions when one form is better than the other?

I always viewed (perhaps incorrectly) pinching as something done in the refinement stage to limit growth before it gets going, as opposed to regular pruning which is done with scissors to cut growth back.

 

[AJL]

Say No to scratch tests!

One, especially compulsive ones, can learn what is dead and alive with a brisk walk around yoinking on branches. Observe the difference between what breaks easily and what doesn't.

We tend to leave a (forbiddenly) scratched tree in hope for longer than it takes to learn to observe what is dead anyway....

So Do Not scratch.

Just as we don't slice open our lethargic pets, we shouldn't wound our trees.

I believe more than half forbiddenly scratched trees ended up dying due to the scratch.

With observation, the difference between dead and alive is like night and day.

Scratching is for DJ's.

And rookies!

Sorce

Hey Source could you give us all a demo of how you yoink on a forbiddenly scratched tree? I have never heard of this technique!!

 

[sorce]

Hey Source could you give us all a demo of how you yoink on a forbiddenly scratched tree? I have never heard of this technique!!

I just snap twigs and bits off of everything(nonsai), all the time. Play "she loves me, she loves me not" with everything.

There is worlds to learn from actual trees.

Everything.... EVERYTHING, except repotting.

Sorce