Have you ever thought pruning could be as important as planting or growing?
Well- I have to say yes! I was given a pair of handheld bypass pruners in 1985, and I have used them with great success ever since.
Pruning your plants gives them an extra boost for health and wellness to bloom and fruit more vigorously.
Pruning can be done seasonally, depending on what you are pruning and why.
The first reason to prune any time of year is safety, often requiring a professional to remove debris from storm damage.
The second situation would be disease or insect damage, which can be done as needed. When pruning out these infected areas- PLEASE- make a habit of sanitizing your tool(s) after each cut. Cut the stem 2″-3″ below the diseased area to give it a healthy heal then sanitize your tool. I use any 70% or higher hand sanitizer gel and a rag. I put 3-4 drops on a rag and completely wipe down the blades, carefully. Then I let it dry for 15-20 seconds, and I am ready to go with the next cut. For me, this is safer for plants and tools than bleach which is corrosive to tools and takes longer to sterilize.
The third reason would be to manage flowers or fruit. Thinning is another technique used to improve the quality and size of fruit. Please check your almanac for timing and variety. Flowers like dahlias will give you larger dish-sized blooms if you pinch off some of the buds to focus strength on those buds left on the plants.
Trimming is used mostly for shaping your plant, tree or shrub. There are certain plants that are trained with specific shapes such as spirals or pom poms that require this type of pruning. Other reasons trimming may be required is alongside a walkway or in front of windows. I am not a big fan of general trimming, such as individual shrubs, because over time these plants grow into a shaped shell with no inner growth. You can correct this over time by making ‘hidden cuts’ into the plant about a third of
the way into the shrub. By pruning 5 or 6 branches down to a joint once every couple of years this stimulates new growth by letting light and air in. Please keep in mind not to trim during extreme heat or drought.
Having the right tools can help make your pruning job easier and more successful.
* Hand held or bypass pruners (my favorite) have a curved upper and lower blade. They cut like scissors and can prune up to a
3/4″ diameter stem. A good pair can vary in price from $15 – $20.
* Lopping shears are basically long handled bypass pruners, but they can cut up to a 2″ diameter branch.
* Manual hedge shears have one long straight blade and one toothed blade with short handles that require both handles to open and close for cutting. The toothed blade makes it easier to trim woody plants. The electric models are easier to use but can leave ragged and poorly placed cuts on the plants. Keeping manual shears sharpened can greatly improve the growth of your plant and also make it easier to cut.
* There are bow saws, folding saws, chainsaws, and pole pruners for more specific jobs. If you use these tools, please wear proper safety gear and use equipment safely. When in doubt, call a professional.
* Another tool I find very useful is a good sturdy pair of garden scissors. They run about the same price as the bypass pruners and are terrific for cutting flowers, vegetables and herbs. They’re also great for cleaning up and cutting back dead flowers.
The other reasons to prune Spring or Fall are to remove sucker shoots coming up from the roots next to the plant, branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other, and water sprouts that develop on an old cut. All of these issues can weaken or misshape your plant, so helping to keep them pruned will improve their health.
Pruning is not something that is learned overnight- I am still learning- but as we continue planting and growing, we find that working with our plants and maintaining them really does help bring out the best in them. Pruning should not be a chore, but a tool to give our plants the best opportunity to grow.
Don’t forget to tune into WHEO Radio, 92.7 FM or 1270 AM on April 22nd to hear the Master Gardeners’ discussion on Pruning.
The Master Gardeners’ Annual Spring Plant Sale will be held at The Rotary Club at 264 Woodland Dr. on Saturday, May 10, from 8 am – 12 pm. See you there!
If you have any gardening questions or would like to see what we are up to, please email us at pcmgassn@gmail.com.
Happy Planting!
