Pronunciation: [pɹˈuːnɪŋ] (IPA) 
Pruning, (pronounced /ˈpruːnɪŋ/), is the process of cutting back or trimming plants to increase their health and growth. The word consists of six letters with a silent "e" at the end. The initial sound of the word is "pru" which is a voiceless bilabial stop, /p/. The "u" is pronounced as long /uː/ and "n" as an alveolar nasal, /n/. The letter "i" between "pru" and "n" is pronounced as short /ɪ/. The final letter "g" is silent.
Pruning is a horticultural practice that involves the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, shoots, or buds, in order to enhance its growth, health, and appearance. It is a common technique used in gardening, landscaping, and arboriculture to shape and maintain the desired form and structure of plants.
The primary purpose of pruning is to improve the overall health and vigor of a plant. By removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches, pruning promotes the growth of new, healthy tissue and prevents the spread of infections or pests. It also allows for better airflow and sunlight penetration, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Pruning can also play a crucial role in shaping plants for aesthetic purposes. By selectively trimming branches, the overall form and silhouette of a tree, shrub, or hedge can be altered to create a desired visual effect. This includes training fruit trees into specific shapes, enhancing flowering shrubs, or maintaining a neat and tidy appearance for landscape plants.
There are various pruning techniques employed, such as thinning, heading, and directing cuts. Thinning involves removing entire branches or shoots at their base, while heading cuts shorten branches by removing a section of it. Directed cuts help guide growth by removing branches or buds that compete with the development of the desired form.
Overall, pruning is a fundamental tool used by gardeners and landscapers to maintain plant health, control growth, and achieve desired shapes or forms, resulting in flourishing and aesthetically pleasing vegetation.
The dressing of trees and shrubs by lopping off their superfluous branches.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word pruning comes from the Middle English word prone or prunen, which means to cut off, to trim. This Middle English term originated from the Old French word proner, also meaning to prune or clip. The Old French term derived from the Late Latin word prunare, which means to prune or lop off branches. Ultimately, the Late Latin term can be traced back to the Latin word pruna, which refers to a glowing ember. The Latin word pruna was metaphorically used to describe trimming or cutting back, eventually giving rise to the modern term pruning.
