It is difficult to give guidelines on how to prune a tree in general, since there are many factors that are at stake when defining the correct pruning mode. The tart round berries of the blackcurrant grow best on the bushes’ newest branches, ie those that grew in the year just gone. Prune to promote plant health . Ordinarily, the best time is late autumn and winter. Maples and birches have watery sap that runs in the spring, and if they are cut, will leak for quite a while. Also target branches that are spaced too closely together or that join the trunk at a narrow angle — 45 degrees or less. To mention an example, I can tell you that nothing has to do the pruning of a rose bush with the pruning of a lemon tree, on the other hand nothing has to do a rejuvenation pruning with a production pruning in a fruit tree, and so we could give many more examples. Many floral trees are susceptible to scorching due to necrosis, a bacterial disease that can be spread by pruning. As a rule of thumb, prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees immediately after the flowers fade. Your neighbors won't see the plant's backside, so feel free to cut back for up to 12 inches of clearance. Pruning plants isn’t just about shaping them. Wearing a decent pair of thornproof gloves is always advisable when dealing with gooseberry bushes as its spiny stems can pack a real punch. Mobile kiosk: Fast and convenient way to order meals, The mulling spices you need in your kitchen, Great Organisation Ideas For Small Spaces, The best American classic cars by Jürg Widmer Probst, Garden landscaping ideas to suit any space. What’s more, since sap is not as active during the winter, cuts are less likely to ‘bleed’, and the tree or shrub sustains less of a shock than … Pruning will ensure your plants stay in peak condition, which will hopefully maximise your fruity harvest the From this basic principle this blog was created to which we gave the name HowandWhentoPrune.com. The tree will send out many smaller branches in an effort to produce more leaves quickly but they are not as strong as the previous branches and can break off easily in the wind. Doing so will encourage tender new growth that will die in winter weather. In general, to perform a proper pruning, you must take into account the type of plant, its age and the objectives. Off-cycle pruning might result in fewer flowers or fruit, but it usually won’t harm the plant in the long run. Remove branches that rub together. Make the cuts safely: cutting small branches is always simple, but when the branches are of an important size it can get complicated. The range is very wide at the time of this selection, but generally for each type of pruning there is an ideal tool, among them we can mention the following: In general, manual pruning tools are easy to use, things get complicated with power tools (eg chainsaw). If you have any evergreen shrubs or trees, they can be pruned in the late winter or early spring. Some flowering shrubs you should in the prune in the winter include: Abeila; Butterfly Bush; Clematis; Hydrangeas ; Rose-of-Sharon; The Best Time to Prune Trees. A heavy cut at this time of year will cause the tree to throw out a multitude of thin branches in the spring, making the tree overly dense and less productive. Remove branch stubs Avoid topping trees. We’ll first target old branches at the base of the plant, chopping them out as close to the ground as we can manage. Some of our allotment apple trees are approaching 10 years old—we’ll be cutting them back to shape them and keep them from casting too much shade over the rest of our plot. A mixture of hormones and food controls a tree’s growth. Cut Back When you look at your flowers and begin noticing Based on this previous analysis, an attack plan and appropriate equipment must be chosen to perform a safe job. It is much easier to see the structure of deciduous plants without their leaves, so pruning can be accomplished quickly and easily. This will focus growth onto younger shoots which will shoot forth in springtime. We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. You can prune shrubs in the winter to help them form flowers on the new wood, which is the growth that appears in the spring. For the latter we recommend careful use, and if possible seek a professional for handling. An incorrect cut can cause serious damage to the tree or even death. This improves air circulation around the back branches and ultimately results in a … The tip bud stimulates new, lengthy, vertical growth and stifles the … Gooseberries tend to be more robust than blackcurrants, and will grow fruit happily on both old or new stems. We’ll use secateurs to deal with small branches and twigs—branches thicker than thumb-width will be dispatched with a pair of lopping pruners. Foundation Plantings For bushes in foundation plantings, prune away any branches rubbing against the house or wall. Many are the factors involved in defining the right way and time for pruning, including the type and age of the tree, the weather, the purpose of pruning, etc. Carefully remove any sappy residue with a scourer or similar, wipe the blades down with oil and add a drop or two to any mechanisms.