The Plant

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The Plant

They not only provide the air we breath but clean it as well! Just like the soil, taken for granted and often abused! On many plants, the body is organised into three main organs; the Root, the Stem and the Leaf.

Plants contain cells called Chloroplasts. The chloroplast cells contain the green coloured Chlorophyll, (which is why most plants appear green) Apart for being responsible for providing the usual colour of plants, chloroplast generates the most important chemical reaction on the planet, Photosynthesis. This is the process by which plants manufacture their own food; Chloroplast cells absorb energy from sunlight. The suns energy combines with water and carbon dioxide from the air. The energy is then converted into chemical energy, or Carbohydrates. It is carbohydrate that not only sustains the plant but most other life as well. The by-product of this process is Oxygen.

The Leaf:
The main area for
Photosynthesis.
Transpiration, (water-loss).
Respiration (energy)
Gas exchange.

The Stem:
The main function of which is
Supporting the leaves and flowers.
Transporting soil solution from the roots to the leaves
Transporting manufactured sugars throughout the plant.
Food storage.

The Root:
The main function of which is
Anchorage.
Uptake of water and nutrients (called soil-solution).
Transporting soil solution to the stem.
Food storage.

The passage of water and food in a typical plant

At the tips of young roots are very fine hairs. These root hairs absorb soil solution from the soil by Osmosis. The soil solution passes into the Xylem Tissue in the centre of the root and continues through the root, into the stem and into the leaves. Water moves out of the plant as a vapour via the stomata. The soil solution combines with the sugars manufactured by photosynthesis and moves into the Phloem Tissue. These sugars and mineral salts are the food the plant needs for healthy and sustained growth, and are transported from the leaves throughout the plant.

The other plant organ on many plants is the flower. It’s function is to produce fertile seed. It does this by attracting insects to pollinate it. To confirm it is one of the best forms of advertising there is, it is also one of the main reasons we choose to buy a plant! A flower is in fact modified shoots consisting of up to four types of 'leaves' arranged in layers;

• Sepals - protect the bud before it blooms, are outermost.
• Petals. - the next layer, attracts pollinators by using colour and scent.
• Stamens - the third layer and the flower's male reproductive organs, produce the pollen.
• Pistil or Carpel - the innermost and female part, composed of stigma, style, ovary and ovule. There may be one carpel or many carpels, (compound) present depending on the species.

If the carpel/s receive pollen grains and if fertilised, the ovules develop to produce seed and the ovary swells to form the 'fruit' as we know it.

The Flower is to be found on many of our plants

Pruning

There appears to by a lot of mystery with pruning which may cause unnecessary anxiety. Pruning is not difficult to do, but it will help to get to grips with some of the terminology first...

The main stem arising from the ground is called the leader.
• A stem growing from this is called the branch leader.
• A stem growing from this is called a lateral branch.
• Subsequent branches are referred to as sub-laterals.
• Fruiting spurs are short branching stems that will carry blossom / fruit.

The types of bud produced.
• Terminal Bud - The bud at the tip of a stem.
• Lateral Bud - The growth bud which will form a lateral branch - normally thin and lies flat against the stem.
• Fruit Bud - Will form blossom / fruiting spurs - normally rounder & fat.

Type of Growth.

• New Wood - Current seasons growth.
• Old Wood - Previous years growth.

Principles of Pruning:

Make cuts clean, removing ragged edges. Remove flush with the main stem any 'snags'. Use clean and sharp tools.

Use the correct cutting tool for the job - secateurs for cuts up to 12.5mm diameter, loppers for cuts up to about 25mm diameter and pruning saws above 25mm diameter.
• Remove completely...overcrowded, rubbing, inward-growing, dead, diseased, weak and awkwardly growing stems before you commence the main pruning.
• Growth will normally come from lateral buds below the pruning cut, with the bud directly beneath the cut becoming the new terminal bud for that branch.
• Cut to an outward facing lateral bud at an angle away from the bud - this will help keep the centre open, allowing light in and air to circulate. By making pruning cuts angle away from the bud will allow water to run off - if not it will sit in the crevice and may rot tissue.
• Make the base of hedges larger than the top in order to allow the light in - ‘top heavy’ hedges will become bare at the base.
• Remove completely diseased, dying or dead growth - at any time of year. Normally diseased wood will be stained - keep removing stem to clean wood. The way to tell for sure if the stem is alive is to scrape the bark with your thumb-nail - if the stem is alive it will usually be green or cream coloured and wet.

There are three main methods of pruning; Hard Pruning - where large lengths of old and new wood is removed. Light Pruning - new wood is removed, or new wood with some old wood. Stooling - all growth is cut back to just above ground level.

Why you are pruning will help you know which method to use:

• More flowers and restricted shape...
annual but lighter pruning
• To encourage new wood or foliage...
stooling or hard pruning.
• Fewer flowers but of a better quality...harder pruning.
• A dense screen...light pruning or shearing.
• An open natural shape...infrequent but harder pruning.
• To control a vigorous or 'leggy' plant...stooling
• To rejuvenate an overgrown plant...
stooling and hard pruning.

Most fruit trees (e.g. apple, pear & plum) and some flowering shrubs (e.g. Wisteria & Pyracantha) flower & fruit on spurs.
Year 1 - growth buds
Year 2 - growth buds & fruit buds
Year 3 - fruit spurs
Spurs are normally produced on mature wood. With this in mind if you prune out completely all branches with fruit spurs you will have no flowers/fruit!

Deciduous Shrubs that flower during the... SPRING - Will flower on old wood; prune as soon as flowering has finished. SUMMER - Will flower on new wood; prune late winter to early spring. Evergreen Shrubs are normally pruned in late spring.