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That’s not good for anyaspiring gardener.
Always clean and disinfect clippers before you begin pruning and between plants to prevent spreading diseases.
Photo:Maryia Kulinskaya / Getty Images
Yourrose bushesshould be pruned back aggressively in the early spring before they begin pushing out new buds.
“Flowering trees like dogwood and saucer magnolia should only be lightly pruned for shape after they bloom.”
They can be lightly pruned for shape," Heinrich adds.
“Avoid cutting into old-but-living wood,” she adds.
“This can hinder regrowth.”
You should also remove dead leaves and twigs when pruning perennials.
“Do not perform heavy pruning during periods of extreme heat to minimize stress on plants.”
Tomatoesshould be pruned early to mid-summer by regularly removing the suckers.
This practice directs the plant’s energy toward fruit production, resulting in larger tomatoes.
“Many gardeners make the mistake of doing heavypruning in the fall,” Heinrich cautions.
“Asparagus should be pruned after the first frost of fall,” she recommends.
She says that Swiss chard should be pruned after the first hard frost.
Remove all the dead and decaying leaves, cutting them back to the ground.
Swiss chardis a biennial, meaning it grows for two seasons before going to seed.
In warmer climates, pruning in fall allows the plant to continue producing fresh leaves throughout winter.
The cooler season is also the best time to shape and lightly prune evergreen trees and shrubs.
“Shape evergreens gently before winter arrives but refrain from making substantial cuts.”
you could also prune perennials, like hostas anddaylilies, back when they enter their dormant phase.
Do not prune plants that bloom in spring because you risk eliminating the buds for next year’s growth.
“Just ensure never to cut back more than a third of the plant’s overall mass.”
“If there is green beneath the surface, there is still life in the branch.”
Prune Perennials and Roses
Winter is another perfect time to prune your perennialsand roses.
“Pruning during winter helps plants develop strong and robust growth when spring arrives,” he says.
Prune variousperennial flowers, such as coneflowers, during the winter season.
You should cut the stems down to 2 to 3 inches above ground to protect the crown from frost.
A key tip for knowing when the best time to prune your garden is to know your growing zone.
“There can sometimes be almost three months difference in when ‘spring’ starts in different locations.”
