How To Prune Trees and Shrubs

This video will outline some basic principals but you should always look up the particular plant you wish to prune before doing so to make sure you get it just right. Pruning is the secret to bringing out the best in your plants but while some plants need only a light trim, others flourish by being cut back hard and the time of year that you get our your pruning shears will also vary.

 Fruit trees are pruned In the winter or early spring and this ensures they provide colourful blossom and a wealth of fruit ready to harvest in the autumn.
This tree was not pruned last year and has seen dozens of water shoots spring up which will neither flower nor bear fruit.

First, take your pruning saw, and start removing branches that are crowding the centre of the tree. This will reduce the chance of summer fungal infections. Remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches. Next, cut branches back to the collar, making clean cuts with a sharp saw. This will reduce the chance of infection. If you have a step ladder, reduce the height of the tree by cutting back any long branches by a half to one third, or side branches so that they face outwards with no crossing. When pruning a side branch, make an undercut first, and saw halfway through the stem, then make the final cut from above, sloping away from the side branch. This will prevent tearing. The sloping cut allows moisture and rainfall to drain off and reduces the risk of rotting. Next shorten any thin whippy growths by cutting back to short ranches with a pair of secateurs. This will encourage flower bud formation. If pruning cuts from previous years, remove short, weak or crowded stems growing around the wound. These are of no use and divert energy from the main branches. Remove all branches that are crossing or starting to grow from the outside of the tree into the centre. Carry on working around the tree, removing unwanted branches and when you are finished, step back to ensure you have created a balanced shape with an uncongested centre. It may look bare but in a few weeks will be in blossom and bearing fruit at the end of the brnaches by late summer.

Many plants require pruning in Spring, one being the colourful Dogwood, or Cornus Alba, which has colourful red winter stems. This is one of those plants that thrives on being cut back hard – almost to the ground – as only fresh stems give that vivid red winter interest. First remove all the damaged or diseased stems, then cut out all the weak and thin stems to leave an open structure. Keep checking the plant to identify and remove the more spindly stems. Now prune the remaining healthy strong
growths. Take the stems back to the first pair of strong healthy buds nearest the base, making a straight cut just above these. Prune out crossing or twisting stems, which can rub together and cause damage. When you have finished you should be left with a simple structure from which a mass of strong colourful stems will grow.

The popular Buddleja, - or butterfly bush - is another shrub that does performs best when pruned. If you leave it will be come straggly over a couple of seasons. Most gardeners will cut stems back almost to the point of last's years pruning, stopping a 2 buds short of last season's mark. After summer flowering remove flowerbuds to prevent the plant from self seeding.