http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2005/06/08/pruning-plants-and-shrubs/ Gardening tips, ideas, musings, landscaping hints Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:47:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2005/06/08/pruning-plants-and-shrubs/#comment-4 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:26:02 +0000 http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2005/06/08/pruning-plants-and-shrubs/#comment-4 It all depends on the plant/tree you are planning to prune. There's a general rule of thumb that you prune after they flower which is a good rule because if you prune BEFORE they flower, you run the risk of pruning off flowering shoots. You see, some plants/trees flower on old wood ie wood that is at least 1 season old so if you prune these off then you risk having fewer flowers. If on the other hand, you aren't particularly fussed about the flowers and want to just maintain the shape of the plant then you will need to prune whenever the plant shape is unwieldy - and that can occur in summer when plants are at their most vigorous. I tend to like to prune my deciduous trees in winter when I can see their 'shape' without the leaves masking it. Other shrubs like lavender and the May Bush I just tend to prune hard after they flower. It all depends on the plant/tree you are planning to prune. There’s a general rule of thumb that you prune after they flower which is a good rule because if you prune BEFORE they flower, you run the risk of pruning off flowering shoots. You see, some plants/trees flower on old wood ie wood that is at least 1 season old so if you prune these off then you risk having fewer flowers. If on the other hand, you aren’t particularly fussed about the flowers and want to just maintain the shape of the plant then you will need to prune whenever the plant shape is unwieldy - and that can occur in summer when plants are at their most vigorous. I tend to like to prune my deciduous trees in winter when I can see their ’shape’ without the leaves masking it. Other shrubs like lavender and the May Bush I just tend to prune hard after they flower.

]]> http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2005/06/08/pruning-plants-and-shrubs/#comment-3 Mon, 29 Aug 2005 01:46:21 +0000 http://www.flowerpotheaven.com/gardeningtips/2005/06/08/pruning-plants-and-shrubs/#comment-3 Prune spring or summer? Prune spring or summer?

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