Pruning can be a tricky task to remember, especially as the techniques vary between different plant types.
Gardeners will need to prune at different times of the year and in different ways, so it's crucial to know what type of plant you're dealing with first.
This way, you'll be rewarded with healthier and more attractive plants all year round. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when pruning, which apply throughout the year.
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1. Over-pruning
Removing too much branch or stem at once can lead to root dieback, which may take several years to recover. Unless you need to "hard prune" a plant, it's best to make small but regular cuts, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Experts at Sutton Manor Nursery also warn that over-pruning can "stunt" a plant's growth and leave it vulnerable to diseases.
If your plant or tree appears stressed or damaged during or after pruning, it may have been pruned too heavily.
2. Pruning in the wrong place
Avoid making incorrect cuts when pruning as this could cause damage and defeat the purpose of pruning. An improper cut refers to cutting too close to the trunk or cutting too far from the trunk if you're pruning a tree.
3. Pruning with dirty secateurs
When pruning, it's important to cut branches and stems at an angle and ensure your secateurs are clean. Using dirty tools can introduce disease that could kill a plant. It's crucial to always disinfect before and after use.
4. Pruning at the wrong time
Teo Spengler, a gardening expert at GardeningKnowHow, warns that if you prune a tree in summer or autumn, you may inadvertently remove buds, flowers or fruit. However, some trees are prone to silver leaf and should be pruned in summer when the risk of infection is lower.
5. Not pruning enough
While under-pruning is preferable to over-pruning and damaging a plant, shrub or tree, not pruning at all isn't ideal either. When a plant needs pruning, it's to stimulate new, vigorous growth or to enhance its appearance.
Neglecting to trim it may result in an unruly plant that spoils the look of a garden. It might also fail to produce the growth you were expecting the following year because the old growth hasn't been removed.
