Home > Projects >

How to Prune

You will need: Secateurs, Pruning Saw, Gloves

The first rule of pruning is to remove the four Ds. Dead, Dying, Diseased and Damaged. This is best done in winter when you can see the problem. Aftr that prune for reversion and tidying.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

For larger branches, remove any obvious dead, diseased or damaged wood, cutting back to live wood using a clean saw.

Step 2

Smaller shoots can be cut using clean secatuers cutting back just above an outward facing bud.

Step 3

A green shoot on a varigated shrub needs removing at its base. This is known as reversion and any all green shoots are stonger and eventually take over, changing the look of the plant.

Step 4

Remove old flower heads from plants like lavendar in spring to allow room for new growth.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

What is a Nematode?

Joy of Spring at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show!

10 Downing Street Garden Opens for One Unique Weekend

Jacksons Fencing introduces Jaksun™ Solar Fence Panel

Gardening Projects for April

---

How to prick off

How to keep a lawn drained

How to control slugs

How to grow Gladioli

Latest Gardening Videos

---

Gardening Jobs for Easter

Pruning a Rose Bush

Potting On Small Roses

Taking and Growing Chrysanthemum Cuttings

Potting Cacti

Lawn Drainage

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Powerscourt Gardens
Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore

RHS Harlow Carr
Harrogate, United Kingdom

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne, Australia

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Tokyo, Japan