How To Prune?

When you give your plants that haircut depends on the plant. The general rule is, prune after flowering and fruiting, that way you won't be interrupting the growth cycle and in many cases the plants will have plenty of time to recover. However, if you've got any dead or diseased elements, remove that out straight away, it doesn't matter what time of the year.

Pruning can be daunting at first, so if you need bit of a practise run before going in for the big chop, start with some deadheading, that’s simply removing old or dead flowers. It can be done regularly with annuals and herbs and you only need a pair of snips, scissors or you can easily use your thumb and forefinger.

Always remember to cut a plant node, which is the part where the leaf connects to the main stem. It's the bit weather new growth springs from plants, generating hormones in the tips of the terminal buds. By removing that part, we're sending a message down the stem to tell the plant to grow out of some of those lower nodes. It’s called tip pruning and by doing this we end up with a bushier, more compact plant.

Pruning shrubs with smaller tools like secateurs will take forever, so go for the big guns such as a pair of shears or even in the electric hedge trimmer. Bushy plants have nodes closer together, so you can achieve the shape you want without having to be too fussy.

Some of your plants may need what we call a hard prune which is where a lot, if not most of the plant’s growth is removed. Certain species will respond well to it, especially herbaceous perennials and grasses.

Pruning Fruit Trees.

If you’re worried about how to prune Pascoe Vale Lawn and Garden can offer some advice. But don't worry too much if you go overboard, the plant will come back, it may just be a bit slower.

Fruit trees like and required good airflow to stay healthy and productive and an annual prune is essential to keep them looking good.

By thinning out the young internal growth, it allows more sun and air into the middle of the tree. Young and establishing trees shouldn't really need much of but older trees with established root zones can cope with a hard pruning. How your tree response will depend on what time of the year you prune. For example, deciduous trees when pruned over the winter will respond with a flush of growth in the following spring, whereas, if pruned after fruiting in the summer they will respond in the following spring with a flush of more flowers.

Secateurs have a hook on one side and a blade on the other. Therefore, when pruning it's a good idea to keep the blade on the tree side. Using the hook on the tree side can bruise the living tissue.

It can be a good idea to consult an arborist if you're dealing with a large tree which can be dangerous.

Pruning is both relaxing for you and it can be very beneficial for your garden. It’s a good idea to research when and how to prune your specific plants and make sure your tools are clean and sharp.