Perfect Pruning
Pruning is an important process to ensure your rooted plants grow in a healthy, happy way. If you want your trees to grow tall, bushes to be bushy and flowering plants to flower, prune away.
2 minute read
Trees
Mature trees which have grown very big may need professional attention. For young trees which can still be easily reached, you can use a pair of strong secateurs to make some really positive changes. Tackle your tree during the late autumn or early winter, when the leaves have fallen. Firstly, snip off any broken branches, which may have been damaged by bad weather. Thin out the areas that are congested or where branches cross each other. Cut away any inconvenient branches which will shortly grow to be in the way of a path, shed or other obstruction. If you need to take a saw to a thicker branch, cut near to the trunk but avoid the stem collar, which is the small lip of bark that each branch protrudes from.
Shrubs
Shrubs can quickly accumulate lots of old, dead wood in the centre if they aren’t pruned on a regular basis. To prune shrubs that flower after mid-summer, cut back all the old wood in early spring, leaving two or three buds on each sprig. When selecting a bud tip to trim to, remember that the new branch will grow out in the direction of the remaining bud. Concentrate on thinning out the middle of the shrub as this opens the plant up to the sunlight. Evergreen shrubs can be pruned mid spring, provided the forecast indicates any frosts have passed.
Climbers
There are many types of climbing plants and they all respond slightly differently, so it’s best to check before you take the clippers out. However, as a general rule it’s best to reduce summer growth annually by pruning in winter. Snip out any old, gnarled stems and also those which may cause overcrowding in the spring. Cut away growth at the top of the plant if it is beginning to clutter pipes, gutters or windows.
Roses
Aim to prune your roses when they are dormant, which happens after they’ve lost leaves but before new buds break in the spring. Cuts should be no more than 5mm above a bud and should be made at an angle, sloping away from the bud to avoid water collecting there. Remove old stubs that have failed to produce new shoots and any older branches which are beginning to produce fewer flowers. Cut out dead stems and weed out any suckers, which need to be removed at the roots.
Tip: It’s a good idea to wash the blades of your cutting tools in a diluted garden disinfectant after use. This prevents the spread of disease which may have been picked up during the pruning process. Dry carefully to avoid rusting between uses.
