Avoiding Common Pruning Blunders Recommended by Professionals
Freshened Up Guide to Healthy Plant Pruning without the Mistakes
Getting your green thumbs in shape and wanting to maintain healthy plants? Pruning effectively is crucial, but it's just as important to avoid common pitfalls that could harm your trees, shrubs, or flowers. Avoid these missteps, follow our expert advice, and create a flourishing, beautiful garden.
meet Anna Ohler, the owner of Bright Lane Gardens - a boutique plant nursery, Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love, and Luke Hammond, an expert gardener at Seedtime, a garden planning and management app. Let's dive right in!
Malformed Blooms from Improper TimingDid you know the timing of pruning is crucial? For many deciduous trees, it's ideal to prune in late winter into early spring. However, if your plant blooms in spring, Anna suggests waiting until they have finished flowering to avoid cutting off new buds, significantly reducing blooms. Don't forget to research the specific pruning times for individual plants to ensure their best care.
Avoid the Sun's Harsh Rays Timing also matters regarding the time of day for pruning. When possible, choose a cooler period with moderate temperatures. Pruning during extreme heat or cold can cause added stress to your plants.
Mindful Pruning and a Well-Thought-Out Plan Proper pruning should increase sunlight exposure and improve air circulation for optimal plant health. Before starting, examine your plant for crossing or competing branches, familiarize yourself with your specific plant's proper shape, and consult pruning guidelines. Make informed decisions about which cuts to make, and avoid removing more than one-third of the entire structure at once.
Sanitize Your Tools Using dirty pruning shears and trimmers can expose your plant's open wound to potentially harmful bacteria or fungal spores. Keep your tools clean by sanitizing them with an alcohol wipe before working on your plant. Using high-quality, sharp tools is another factor in ensuring clean, effective cuts.
No Harmful Treatments Protect your plants by refraining from using any type of wound dressing—these could delay plant healing and introduce harmful bacteria or prevent the cut from closing. Do not paint the wound for cosmetic reasons or use foreign substances claiming to be safe.
Avoid Over-Pruning Taking too much from a tree or shrub in one session can shock the plant and make it more susceptible to diseases and fungus. Prune it slowly in stages over several years instead if an extensive reshaping is a priority.
With these expert tips in mind, you'll be pruning like a pro and preventing any major setbacks for your lovely garden!
Further Insights:- Pruning seasons vary depending on the type of plant. Deciduous trees should prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Conifers are pruned in late spring or early summer.- Expert opinions suggest pruning spring-blooming shrubs and trees after they flower to avoid damaging developing buds.- Utilize sharp, clean, and well-maintained pruning tools like hand saws or pruning shears to make precise cuts.- Making a clean cut just outside the branch collar, avoiding stubs, will promote healthy healing.- Removing more than one-third of the plant's branches at once can create additional stress on the plant, potentially making it more vulnerable to diseases and fungus.- Seek professional guidance when uncertain about pruning techniques or requirements.- Poor tree topping practices, which involve removing the entire top of the tree, can lead to tree death or weakening.
[1] How to Prune Plants (gardengrowgeek.com)
[2] Improper Pruning Damages Trees (extension.umd.edu)
[3] How to Prune Plants (sunset.com)
- To ensure a healthy garden, follow expert advice from Anna Ohler, owner of Bright Lane Gardens, Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love, and Luke Hammond, an expert gardener at Seedtime.
- Future blooms can be protected by pruning at the right time, such as after a plant has finished flowering, as suggested by Anna.
- Pruning guidelines would also recommend examining your plant for damaged or crossing branches before pruning to promote better air circulation and sunlight exposure.
- Properly maintaining gardening tools like pruning shears is essential for preventing the spread of diseases by keeping them clean with alcohol wipes between uses.
