Pruning
Pruning is a vital part of plant and tree care and can be confusing so here is a guide to help you prune properly.
Three basic tools will do the trick for most pruning jobs: shears, loppers, and a pruning saw. Keep them sharp for clean cuts and disinfect after pruning diseased material. If pruning trees, you may want to consider purchasing a pole saw to make life a Lot easier on yourself.
1. When Do Roses Need To Be Pruned?
Prune in winter or early spring when plants are still dormant. Most plants are pruned to maintain symmetrical shape and to encourage strong new growth. Cut back the previous years growth by as much as one-third of the canes length. Remove weak, under developed and dead branches and also those that cross through the center. This will also encourage strong new growth and ensure air flow throughout the new growing season. 2. When Do Crepe Myrtles Need To Be Pruned?
The best time to prune crepe myrtles is in February. Prune out twiggy stems and any dead wood and as well, thin out
crossing or crowded branches in the plants center. If tree form,
prune lower branches and prune the top to develop some symmetry. Each year
after flowering, cut 12 to 18 inches off the tips of branches that have bloomed. 3. When Do Hollies Need To Be Pruned?
Prune in winter or early spring mostly to shape plants. Cut back wayward branches and prune
out weak unproductive dead stems as needed.
4. When Do Butterfly Bushes Need To Be Pruned?
Butterfly bushes bloom in summer on new spring growth. They can be pruned in late winter or early spring. By pruning old blooms you will encourage new flowers. Also prune out old dead and unproductive branches. 5. When Do Hydrangeas Need To Be Pruned?
Hydrangeas fall into two groups. Some you prune in early spring and others after the flowers fade. a. Early Spring Pruning - Hydrangeas that bloom on new growth. These include Climbing Hydrangea, Annabelle, Grandiflora, and PeeGees.
b. After-Bloom Pruning - Hydrangeas that bloom on last years stems. These include Bigleaf Hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Lacecaps, Summer Beauty, and Nikko Blue. Prune after the flowers have faded by cutting back the flowering stems to the strongest pair of new shoots. As plants mature, begin to thin out the oldest woody stems and remove the crowded, crossing, broken, and dead branches. 6. When Do Clematis Need To Be Pruned?
Clematis fall into three categories: Spring flowering, summer flowering , and twice flowering.
a. Spring flowering - Clematis produce flowers on stems that grew during the previous year. Prune when the flowers are done blooming, cut back the flowers that are dead and prune out any old dead stems as well.
b. Summer flowering - Plants bloom on new growth produced in the spring. Cut back stems before new growth begins in late fall or early spring. You can cut back about 12 inches of old growth which will help the vine to grow larger and stronger each year.
c. Twice flowering - Plants first bloom in spring on stems produced the previous year and will bloom again in late summer or early fall. In late fall or very early spring, prune lightly to thin the stems. After the spring bloom has finished, prune more heavily for healthy stems to develop for the next bloom and after the second bloom, prune old flowers away. 7. When Do Fruit Trees Need To Be Pruned?
The most common fruit trees are apple, peach, pear and cherry. If applying dormant oil to prevent pest infestations, do so in late winter or early spring before the tree breaks dormancy.
a. Apple Trees
Apple trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Always remove all suckers (summer is a great time), and crowded, crossed over branches in the center of the tree for better air circulation. Also remove dead and other unproductive branches as needed.
b. Peach Trees
Peach trees are fast growing and need to be pruned in winter. Without pruning the peaches will grow farther away from the tree's center which puts to much strain on the branches, causing them to break. In winter, thin out upward-growing branches that cross in the tree's center.
c. Pear Trees
Prune back in early spring. Always prune dead and unproductive branches as needed, as well as crowded, crossed over branches in the center, again to promote good air circulation and adequate sun.
d. Cherry Trees
Prune in winter. Prune out branches that cross in center and dead unproductive branches as needed. 8. When Do Azaleas and Rhododendrons Need To Be Pruned?
The best time to prune azaleas and rhododendrons is just after their blooming period in spring. Rhododendrons and Azaleas set their buds for blooming in the summer and fall, so pruning in the Spring would prevent the plants from blooming. If you prune immediately after bloom time, no additional pruning will be necessary. If your
Rhodo's or Azaleas have suffered winter damage, or did not set their buds properly, then they can be pruned in winter or early spring to encourage healthy growth. 9 When Do Junipers Need To Be Pruned?
Junipers need very little pruning but should be done during the juniper's growing stages in mid-summer. They should be pruned to correct their shape, to accent their form, or to limit their size. 10. When Do Flowering Trees Need To Be Pruned?
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