Pruning
I find pruning to be quite difficult. Not only the pruning itself, but also knowing the moment of when to prune exactly. Most of the time, I start, as soon as all the leaves have fallen from the plant or tree, but this can lead to having dead plants in the spring. So, I think I could do better!
Instead, I go looking for a pruning calendar online. There are so many to choose from. It is of course, handy if you at least know which plants are in your garden. Fortunately, I was able to find some old plant index cards in the shed. However, for the most common shrubs, I have managed to find a few firm rules, which are easy to remember.
Do you have shrubs that bloom in the spring? Prune these after they bloom. Not in the autumn or winter, as then they won’t bloom the next year. If you’ve got shrubs that bloom after June, then prune those in spring once the frost is definitely over. If you prune them too early, the branches will die. Perhaps you’ve got other plants in your garden, in which case, consult a pruning calendar for the correct instructions.
Before pruning, be sure to check that your pruning tools are sharp enough. Hold your shears up to the light and check to see if there is any damage to the blades. Trying to prune using blunt tools is not only very tiring, your plant will also have a greater chance of being damaged.
If you know which plants you’re going to prune now, first choose which branches you are going to remove. Preferably, select those that grow across each other. Prune the branch above the spot where a young branch or shoot points outwards. Let the young branch where it is, so the shape of your bush or tree is maintained. This way, you’ll avoid creating holes in the greenery.