Gardener Adam Frost shared three tips “to prune like a pro” this year. First of all, “picking the timing” for each plant is key.
“To decide when to prune, think about how plants behave in nature. In winter, when trees are dormant, they will drop any weak and dead wood, so it’s the best time to prune trees. In general, most trees and shrubs should be pruned after they have flowered.”
He also advised gardeners to “perfect your technique,” and recommended to always cut the three Ds first: “Dead, diseased and damaged wood.”
“Cut stems on a slant as this encourages rainwater to drain away,” the gardening pro told Countryliving.
Finally, he advised to keep your plant healthy: “Cut close to a healthy leaf bud. If you leave too much of the stem above a cut it will die back and can cause infection. Look for a bud that is outward facing: if branches grow inwards, they tend to become congested.”
Spring is often the busiest time for gardeners, when there’s a significant amount of pruning to be done.
A variety of plants, including lavender, buddleia and ornamental grasses, should be pruned in spring. This process clears the way for further growth and promotes an abundance of flowers, foliage and colourful stems across a broad spectrum of plants.
Lavender
If you’re looking to prune like a pro, Mediterranean shrubs such as lavender can be pruned in spring, after the harsh conditions of winter. If you reside in a northern or eastern area it’s best to prune in spring as the old stems and flowers help protect new shoots from frost in winter.
Other tender shrubs to prune in spring include cistus and rosemary.
Buddleia
Flowering shrubs that bloomed in the summer such as fuchsia and buddleia should be cut back hard in spring to encourage a burst of new growth from the base of the plant, and plenty of flowers for the new season.
Ornamental grasses
Miscanthus and other deciduous grasses that have stood over winter can be cut back hard from March. Remove all the brown growth, leaving any new green stems behind.
