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Pruning Tips

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Pruning Tips

Pruning is one of the most misunderstood and feared subjects in gardening. In practice, though, there is little to worry about. Few plants will be killed by cutting bits off - it's more likely they will grow even stronger. Here's how to go about it.

Time to complete job: Variable
Approximate budget: Negligible

You will need:

  • Secateurs
  • Long-handled pruners
  • Pruning saw
  • Leather gardening gloves
  • Methylated spirits
The amount you prune a plant depends on the type and when it flowers. Shrubs which flower in spring or early summer are flowering on last year's growth and benefit from removing some of the stems just after flowering. This encourages new growth which will flower better the following year. Late summer flowering shrubs, such as Buddleia (Buddleja Davidii), flower on the current year's growth.

Plants grown for their foliage or bark, such as Cornus, produce a better display from new growth. Both these can be cut hard back each spring. It may be possible to propagate cuttings from the pruned stems; for more on this see Propagation.
Step 1: Remove diseased and damaged wood

Click to enlarge

Step 1: Remove diseased and damaged wood

It's not essential to remove dead branches but it can make plants look better and encourages plants to redirect growth into new vigorous shoots which will flower better. If caused by disease, however, cut out completely to live healthy wood lower down the plant.
Prune as illustrated, just above a healthy bud.
Tip: Clean blades with methylated spirits between plants to avoid spreading disease.
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Your Comments

  • Pruning Tips :confused:
    These will normally flower between Apr - June on short shoots produced the prev summer. On mature plants the pruning would consist of cutting out all flowered stems to 1 or 2 buds (2 or 3 inches) of the framework as soon as flowering stops. If its the first year or second year then the pruning should have been completed in Jan/Feb to Build a framework for future growth and flowering by pruning back previous growth by approx one half and train into position required. Hope this helps. There is a clem expert on the bbc boards under the name of PLOCKET who has more knowledge re clems. Foz Smile
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