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The Importance of Pruning
Along with weeding I consider pruning to be of paramount importance in the maintenance of gardening. Regular and ongoing pruning results in healthy shrubs with optimum blooming potential and shapeliness.
As a general rule prune your shrubs straight after flowering. As most shrubs flower through the winter and spring period this gives them the opportunity to make plenty of growth through the warmer months and prepare for next seasons flowering. Most flowering shrubs produce their flowers from all the growth they make in the current season so you can see if you don’t prune regulary then your shrub will become taller and wider, producing all the flowers at the tips. Also when you prune the cut off shoot produces more sprouts so ultimately your shrub will produce more flowers.
Some shrubs flower continually, eg Lavenders and you have to be prepared to sacrifice blooms in either to keep a nicely shaped bush. With these shrubs wait for the main flowering to be over and prune back during the warmer months so the shrub has rejuvenated its leaf cover before the onset of cold weather.
Pruning also keeps the shrub in a vigorous juvenile state and removes any disease and insect infestations.
How far to prune back is a question I am regulary asked? It depends how small you want the shrub to grow. But if you reliably prune back every year you can prune quite hard. Always prune back to leaves. Some shrubs .eg evergreen Azaleas are quite tolerant if you prune back to dead looking wood but you have to know which shrubs can tolerate such treatment. If you are unsure look carefully at the base of the shoots. If they have prominent green nodes then you can be assured that this shrub will rejuvenate new shoots from bare wood.
Regular tree pruning is just as important. Take a careful look at your trees on an annual basis and remove dead and broken branches. Also crossed branches and any that will compromise your safety as well as your home. It is far easier and cheaper to remove branches while they are smaller. I prefer to prune deciduous trees while they have a leaf canopy. With a leaf cover the branches hang lower and you can easily see any problems.
Too often trees are only pruned when they have become a problem and this often leads to total removal. I prune my trees from the moment they have been planted. This way I can regulate their ultimate shape.
Dead heading flowers is another important and rewarding task in the garden. Flowers are produced primarily to set seeds and so renew themselves. If you diligently remove the setting seeds it will encourage the plant to produce more flowers. If you don’t remove the seeds the plant will stop flowering and put all its energy into growing the seed.
Make a habit when you go out to garden to carry your pruning tools with you as well because I can guarantee there will be pruning work out there for you to do. Get out of the habit of rushing around your shrubs once a year and pruning and treat them as individuals. This way you will be rewarded with healthy and prolific flowering shrubs.
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