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As tree pruning is quite a tough job, you may ask whether it is really essential. The answer is yes and no: trees can survive without pruning, but good pruning makes them grow better and produce more blossoms and fruit. Pruning also allows you to play a bigger part in the architecture of your garden, by shaping shrubs and trees and keeping them under control. Try it, and you’ll notice that a few hours’ work makes an amazing difference to your garden, both now and next year.
Generally, summer and autumn flowering trees should be pruned when they are dormant, in winter or early spring. This is so tree pruning won’t disrupt fruit or flower production, and because there is less chance of disease or insect infestation in winter. Most trees will also be free of leaves, allowing a better view of their branch structure.
Young fruit trees are an exception. On first being planted, they need to be ‘trained’ in their first year, by pruning them in the summer when they have developed 3-4 inches of new growth. This helps them to develop broad, well-spaced branches which allow sunlight to reach fruit and blossoms. Prune regularly for three years until they have established a good shape, then prune as a mature tree.
Winter pruning:
With many flowering shrubs such as lilac, forsythia and rhododendron, pruning is important for controlling the shape and size of the plant and keeping it looking healthy. However, spring flowering trees and shrubs often develop next year’s buds as soon as they have finished flowering, meaning that winter pruning would result in the loss of next year’s blossoms. Prune these plants in early summer when they have finished blooming, but have not yet started forming next year’s buds.
Here’s how:
Note: Although buddleia looks similar to many spring-flowering shrubs, it actually flowers in summer and should be pruned in winter or early spring. It is also good to leave spent blooms on buddleia, as its seeds provide important nourishment for small birds.
If you don’t already have some, buy some good quality secateurs and loppers (long-handled secateurs). These will serve you well for many pruning tasks, with loppers capable of cutting through branches of up to 2 inches. Shears are the best tool for deadheading blooms.
If you have larger trees, you may also need a saw. You can use a normal saw, but special tree pruning saws are available which are specially designed to deal with tree sap.
Tree pruning takes a certain amount of time and dedication. If you generally find you are short of time for gardening, consider automating other tasks like watering (e.g. with GARDENA’s smart Water Control ) or mowing the lawn (e.g. with the GARDENA smart SILENO). This would free up a couple of hours a week, allowing you to give your trees the attention they deserve.
Complex questions like how and when to prune seem like matters of common sense once you understand the way your trees grow and produce flowers, fruit and seeds. Getting to grips with tree pruning helps you to gain a deeper knowledge of your garden and take a more central role in helping it thrive.