Everything you need to know about pruning

Pruning is one of the most important maintenance tasks in the garden. By pruning regularly, you keep your plants healthy, in shape, and you also stimulate flowering or growth. Still, many people find pruning intimidating: are you cutting off too much, or too little? In this article we explain why pruning is important, when it’s best to do it, and how to go about it.

why is pruning important?

Pruning plants is more than just shaping them. It has several clear benefits:

• Health: you remove dead or diseased branches so the plant can focus its energy on new shoots.
• Stimulating growth: pruning encourages new shoots to grow, making the plant fuller and stronger.
• Promoting flowering: many flowering plants produce more and better flowers after proper pruning.
• Space and light: pruning prevents plants from crowding each other and ensures enough light and air can pass through the branches.

when should you prune?

The right pruning time depends heavily on the type of plant:

• Spring-flowering shrubs (such as Forsythia or Magnolia) should be pruned right after flowering.
• Summer-flowering shrubs (such as lavender or butterfly bush) are pruned in early spring, usually in March or April.
• Fruit trees are usually pruned in winter, when the tree is dormant.
• Hedges (such as boxwood or privet) can be lightly trimmed several times a year to keep them neat.

Handy rule of thumb: never prune during frost periods or on extremely hot days.

how to prune correctly

1. Use sharp and clean tools to avoid ragged wounds.
2. Cut diagonally just above a bud or side branch. This allows rainwater to run off easily.
3. Start with dead or diseased branches, then work on shaping the plant.
4. Don’t be afraid: often a plant can handle more than you think.

common pruning mistakes

• Pruning too late, causing you to miss the bloom.
• Cutting everything back at once: some plants respond better to gradual pruning.
• Cutting too high: this can result in unsightly stubs or water sprouts.

pruning by plant type

Each plant has its own pruning rules. For example:

• Roses: pruning back hard each year promotes abundant flowering.
• Lavender: lightly trim after flowering, then prune deeper in spring.
• Hydrangea: remove old flowers, but be careful with the buds for the following year.

conclusion

Pruning doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little knowledge of the plant and the right timing, you’ll ensure your garden remains healthy and beautiful year after year. See pruning not as a chore, but as a chance to rejuvenate your plants and give your garden a fresh look.