Pruning - is a contentious issue in gardening - When is the right time? And - How much to prune?
When To Prune???
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There are certain conventions within gardening regarding the 'right time' to prune various plants. And it is probably one of the main reasons for marriage problems......one person wants to prune and the other thinks - "not now" - and "that's too much!!".
To any novice - pruning can seem a bewildering subject.
So let me simplify this for you somewhat......The right time to Prune - is Now! Now! Now!
We can spend forever trying and then failing to hit the right window for pruning. In the mean time the plant is getting leggy and unsightly.
As a gardener I prune for form - not for flowers. Flowers are nice - but they are not my main priority. Otherwise I would never prune. So I would rather have a well pruned plant - with a tight full structure. Than a perfectly pruned plant which can be leggy and unsightly. It depends what effect you are trying to create.
As a rule of thumb - I prune most plants when it looks like it needs doing. And I don't worry unduly about flowers. By all accounts my client gardens look great and the plants are full and fantastic.
How To Prune???
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Again there are certain conventions within gardening - regarding how much to prune individual plants. As you get to know your plants you will begin to understand each plants individual characteristics.
But let me simplify the whole subject for you....."Cut back to the green". If you remember that - your garden will thrive.
Ok - here is a general rule of thumb for you.....always prune to a green shoot. In that way you can be sure that the plant will most likely bounce back. What do you do if the plant is massively out of hand and adversely dominating your garden - Cut it back to the ground!!
Most times I have done that to a well established plant - it has bounced back just fine. And it will look fantastic.
When you prune - the plant will normally send out several more shoots at the point of the cut. If you want a nice full plant - prune it fairly regularly once or twice a year to promote bushiness.
So there you have it. Pruning is easier than you think - And the worst that can happen most times - is you loose some flowers. Not worth all the marital strife! Let him/her have at it. It will grow back - I promise!!
As a novice gardener - have a go and prune. If in doubt - prune. If it looks awful - prune. Please don't be afraid to prune.
Till next time - Happy Gardening,
Sage.
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Kingdom Plants is in business to help you tame your unruly gardens - bringing back some much needed order and tranquility. I work to create a real sanctuary for you and your family to enjoy. Call me in to have a look - I can advise you on the best way forward - and help you to get the most from your garden.
