Question: I’ve heard talk about pruning to an “outward-facing” bud. What does that mean?

Answer: Any dormant bud on a limb or trunk has to face one particular direction. If you want to encourage open, more spreading growth, you would always prune just beyond a bud that was on the opposite side of the stem from the main trunk, or an “outward-facing” bud. That’s critical technique when pruning roses, peaches and plums, for example, since you want them to spread. If you were to prune them just beyond a bud that faced back into the center of the plant, you’d get tight, congested growth.