| [College of ACES] | [University of Illinois] | [Illinois CES] |
I appreciate your sentiment but perhaps your are not right.
There is a reason for not removing branches when transplanting. The tree needs to photosynthesise
to replace the roots. Pruning was shown, as was to be expected, to reduce the rate of recovery and regrowth.
hence bonsai techniques.
I know of no research to support your proposition that pruning to free wires increases water consumption. At the
absurd end that would suggest that a tree with no leaves uses the most water.
Now I am not saying you said this. I just need to say you may be right but to me it appears wrong.
The one obvious comment is that deciduos trees consume the largest amount of water during leaf formation and growth. Therefore
if pruning were to result in rapid regrowth of foliage the consumption of water would probably increase. In ALL other circumstances
it is probable that water consumtion would stay static or remain the same.
Watering may be a good way of apeasing an important customer, however, in which case you may be better looking at mulch, and longer
less frequent waterings. The use of a soil injectin system may also be useful as could wetting agents.
Anyway some food for thought and discussion
Mark