All kinds of plants can benefit and need pruning at some point in time. the important fact is to know when to do so and how to properly prune them. Additionally, different plants have different requirements when it comes to pruning. If you are not sure about how and when to prune, here are some tips for pruning the right way.
Types of Plants
When it comes to pruning, plants can fall into three categories. The first category is plants that give fruit and flowers. They are best to be pruned when they are dormant in late winter and early spring.
Some plants, like trees that bloom and the shrubs, will have new buds after the last flowers fall off. The old flowers have to be pruned quickly after drying-up to avoid pruning the new buds coming into the old one’s place.
There are some plants that have to be constantly pruned whenever there are dead ends.
When to Prune Plants
While pruning at the wrong time will rarely kill the plant, it can result in fewer flowers and fruits for plants that do give those. Here is the pruning time for different types of plants.
Shrubs and Flowering Plants
When it comes to these plants, the general rule is to prune the trees and shrubs in late winter and early spring when the plant is dormant. OF course, this is for trees that bloom in the summer and fall. Trees that bloom int eh spring can be pruned as their flowers fade in the late part of spring and early summer.
Berries and Fruit Trees
The fruit plants are going to be pruned when they are dormant. This is usually when the plant gathers to prepare its buds for the next season. You have to be really careful at this time. Berries and fruit trees are the ones that benefit most from pruning. If they are not pruned, they can decline with time.
Evergreen trees do not need to be pruned. The only reason to prune an evergreen tree is if it needs to be kept at a certain size. Otherwise, evergreens are very distressed by pruning. It is better to choose a small type of evergreen tree instead of pruning a large one to stay small. If you do have to prune an evergreen, do it while the tree is still young.
Perennial Bedding Plants
A perennial plant requires maintenance. Most of these plants need to be cut down completely at some time before and after their growing season. Besides this, they need regular pruning and deadheading.
Choosing the Right Tools
Whatever the plants may be, you need to choose the correct tool. Sharp tools make pruning easier. They are also important when you want your plants to be healthy. The four tools for pruning are saws, shearers, hand pruners, and loppers.
The most commonly used tool is the hand pruner. It is easily used for small plants. They are easy to work with with a single hand and resemble a scissor. Sometimes, however, a hand pruner does not do the job, and you have to find out what the others are used for.
A lopper is a tool you will use when you cannot cut something with one of your hands. It is a pruner that is longer and gives you the extra reach to prune branches that are higher. The leverage of the lopper will allow you to prune branches that are more than two inches in diameter.
Shears are something that resembles a large scissor. They are a hack tool that is used for all kinds of shrubs in the yard. Shears are a little less popular then they were before when gardening favored sharp edges and lines on shrubs. New gardening etiquette, on the other hand, allows for more freedom for plants. If you do have lots of shrubs that need clipping, they the shears are something that you can use. They are also great for perennial shearing when you need to cut large areas of dry plants.
Sometimes and some tasks will require a saw. If something is too big for the lopper, you will have to get the saw. While any old saw will do, it is best to have a designated pruning saw because it does not gum up or bind to living wood.