Nineteen members and two guests were present for the December Claussville Garden Club meeting at the Seipstown Grange Hall.

Members were asked to bring cookies and Christmas gifts for exchange.

A holiday spirit was established with tasty cookies and treats and the program that followed.

The program "Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs" was presented by Master Gardener John Drabic.

Pruning basics and the tools needed were discussed by Drabic.

Pruning is a regular part of plant maintenance involving the selective removal of specific plant parts.

Although shoots and branches are the main targets for removal, roots, flower buds, fruits and seedpods may also be pruned.

Members were shown how to prune and the tools to be used.

Pruning improves the appearance or health of a plant, controls the size of the plant, and can prevent injury or property damage.

Pruning can also be used to train plants, influence fruiting and flowering, and rejuvenate old trees and shrubs.

Drabic displayed various tools, including bypass pruners, anvil pruners, a pruning saw, pole pruners, hedge clippers and lopping shears.