It’s a must-do if you have a gardenor even a few houseplants.
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Bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to plants.
But howand whenshould you be pruning your plants or trees?
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And how does cutting back your plants actually encourage them to grow back bigger and stronger?
Learn the basics about pruningfrom what it is to how and when to do it.
What Is Pruning?
What Tools Do You Use to Prune Plants?
For small shrubs and plants, a bypass pruning shearsa scissors-like toolcan handle branches under an inch wide.
Hedge shears, which have thick handles and long, scissors-like blades, are used to shape shrubs.
Pruning tools should be cleaned with either bleach, isopropyl alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.
Many plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring, to help promote new growth.
One time when you should avoid pruning: the late summer to fall time frame.
Next, look at the structure of the plant.
Again, follow your individual plant’s pruning requirements.
Some plants require significant pruningalmost to the soil linewhile others require cutting back a third of the growth.
What Plants Need Pruning?
What Plants Don’t Need Much Pruning?
Some plants that don’t require regular pruning include:
