Basic Pruning

Where to start – know why you're doing it

Pruning is carried out for one of the following purposes: to remove dead, decayed, diseased or broken branches, to eliminate unwanted growth or suckers, to improve the shape of the plant and to produce new growth for flowers, blossoms and fruit.

Pruning types and purposes

To encourage a thick, well-shaped plant you undertake tip pruning. Usually undertaken in early spring after new growth has occurred.

To encourage flowering and strong growth in deciduous plants with broad leaves, you use thinning. This method of pruning is performed in early spring before new growth begins by removing older or weaker branches which can often be cut back to ground level.

To control the shape and size of all types of shrubs you shear. Shearing is clipping the newest foliage, usually only 1 to 2 inches back. Broadleaf and evergreen hedges are often sheared to promote thick, dense foliage. Lawn edges are also sheared to give that perfect razor edge.

When training a plant to grow against a wall you espalier. This highly specialised pruning technique requires much practice but produces beautiful plants and trees, especially fruit trees. Espaliered peaches and pears produce good fruit in reduced areas.

Topiary is like shearing but involves shaping plants ornamentally. Topiary may need to be undertaken several times in the growing season to maintain shapes, and narrow leaf trees and shrubs normally respond well as topiaries, box is the famous plant for this.

Removing tree limbs requires a special pruning technique. Tree surgery has to be undertaken so no stub remains and it is essential to cut in such a way as to allow the limb leave the main steam without ripping the bark. It is also important to cut so that water does not gather in the cut, causing rotting of the remaining area. You may use wound treatment or healing mixes to seal tree prunings but generally it is not considered that these have a hugely valuable role.