Gardening is quickly becoming the hobby of choice for many people. Maybe you have an interest in greening up your yard, becoming more eco-friendly, or just love the relaxing and calm feeling you get spending time in the garden. Whatever the reason, gardening can become a lot more enjoyable when you are successful at it. This means as an amateur gardener, you will need to master a few skills. One of which, is knowing how to properly prune the plants in your garden. Read on to learn some of the basics.
Shear Skills: Pruning Tips for the Amateur Gardener
Just Do It
Pruning can seem a little intimidating. For many people, it feels like a step backwards for growing taller plants. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap. Failing to prune will keep your garden from reaching its full potential. So don’t stress, and just grab the shears so you can get started.
Stumped by Stumps
You might not think of stumps and roots as part of a plant you’ll want to prune, but if roots are pushing up concrete or interfering in the flower beds, it’s time to get them trimmed. The roots of a tree or bush are very delicate though, so take care to make sure you aren’t cutting something vital for growth. Old stumps can be a pain to take out as well and services like Pete & Ron’s Tree Service can get this job done so you don’t have to spend quality time with a shovel.
The Right Time
Most people are surprised to learn there is a proper time for pruning. This time period will vary from plant to plant. Remember, just like certain seeds have a window for planting, full grown plants have a window for pruning. Consult a gardening manual to discover when you should prune each of the plants in your home garden.
Flowering Shrubs
When pruning flowering shrubs, find a healthy bud. Trim away long, unbranded stems. This will motivate side branches to develop on the shrub. The result will be a fuller shrub. Also, thin out the old, weak, or tangled branches that can develop on the inside. This will allow the healthier branches to flower more fully.
Small Trees
If you have any small tress in your garden, you will want to prune these too, especially to encourage good growth. However, never prune a young tree. Also, make sure you never trim the highest branch. This is the one reaching for the sky and doing the most work. It is necessary for the tree to have this branch intact to develop. After your tree is established, trim away any branches that compete with this highest branch. Also, prune away any branches that are rubbing on other branches, or are decaying or dying.
Conifers
Don’t forget to prune any conifers in your garden. If you have an evergreen conifer, you should prune it the same way you would a flowering shrub. A whorl-branching evergreen, such as a fir, spruce, or pine, will require you to gently prune the tree with your fingers by breaking off undesired buds in the spring.
Make sure your garden is able to reach its full potential. Don’t shy away from pruning and mark your calendar for a pruning date with your garden today!
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