Principles Of Pruning

BACK TO BASICS | by DEBRA PRINZING

JUDICIOUS EDITING OF YOUR PLANTS can create a more attractive ― and healthier ― garden. Pruning is one of the most important editing tools for the landscape, but I’m not talking about something that looks like Edward Scissorhands has come to play, or the tightly-clipped boxwood balls, cubes and animals belonging to über-formal estate gardens.

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Gardeners prune to achieve the following benefits:

• Produce better blooms and fruit (think of rose shrubs and apple trees)
• Improve plant health by removing dead and diseased branches (to allow for better air circulation and encourage light to reach healthy stems)
• Rejuvenate overgrown shrubs (eliminating overcrowded stems or limbs encourages the vigorous growth of younger ones)

Pruning is ideally scheduled for late winter, when woody trees and shrubs are in their dormant stage. For the best cuts, use sharp, clean pruners. This avoids ragged edges and prevents the spread of disease from one plant to the next.

Before you start, observe how your trees and shrubs are growing. Stand back; walk around the plant; take note of oddly-angle or wayward stems that might be worth removing. It’s better to prune less than more, so take your time. Make cuts that enhance a plant’s natural form. Cut no more than ¼-inch above the joint of a branch or new bud, to encourage healthy growth. The ideal cut is at a 45-degree angle on an outward-facing bud or branch.

Here are three of my favorite pruning tools:

Felco pruners. The classic red-handled tool is used by the pros. It comes in ergonomic styles and a range of sizes, including small (ideal for women’s hands). You can also purchase replacement blades.

Fiskars pruners. Lightweight and easy to use, this cool tool is designed with ergonomic features to minimize stress on the hand.

Floral pruners. From Wild and Wolf, these are thoroughly pretty and decorated with William Morris wallpaper florals from the Arts and Crafts era. This attractive tool is ideal for cutting back perennials and deadheading roses.