Top Plants to Prune in Spring
Springtime is just around the corner, and it’s time to dream of all things gardening and outside, and making sure all the plants on our side of the fence are nice and green.
One way to encourage growth and nice, healthy plants is by pruning them in the Spring.
Pruning is an essential technique for any gardener who wants to maximize their yields and promote the health of their plants. By selectively removing certain branches or stems, you can encourage the growth of new shoots, increase the size and quality of fruits and flowers, and ensure that your plants remain strong and healthy throughout the growing season.
However, pruning is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it requires careful consideration of the specific needs of each plant.
Factors such as the plant’s growth habits, stage of growth, and desired end result must all be taken into account when determining the best pruning strategy.
Whether you are growing fruit trees, vegetables, or ornamental plants, understanding the principles of pruning and how to apply them can make all the difference in achieving a bountiful and beautiful harvest.
Here’s a list of plants that you can prune this Spring and get some pretty good growth.
Tender Shrubs –
Many shrubs need their extra layers of protection through the wintertime, but as soon as the frost is out of the ground, it’s time to start pruning.
Some shrubs to cut back include Lavender, Cistus and Rosemary. Pruning them early will encourage growth when it warms up.
Don’t be afraid to prune them back by 1/3.
Pruning tender shrubs is an important aspect of their care, especially if you live in a climate with cold winters. Many tender shrubs, such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, and mandevilla, cannot survive frost and require protection during the winter months. Proper pruning can help these shrubs thrive and produce vibrant blooms year after year.
The best time to prune tender shrubs is in the early spring, just before new growth begins. Begin by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased wood, cutting back to healthy tissue. Then, assess the overall shape and size of the shrub and decide how much you want to prune. It’s important not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s total growth in a single pruning session, as this can stress the shrub and impact its overall health.
When pruning, use sharp, clean pruning shears to make clean cuts at a slight angle just above a leaf node. Avoid leaving stubs or ragged cuts, as these can lead to disease or pest infestations. If your tender shrub has long, leggy growth, consider cutting back the stems by up to half to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
After pruning, water your tender shrub deeply to promote new growth and help the plant recover from any stress. You can also apply a slow-release fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
By pruning your tender shrubs regularly and correctly, you can help them thrive and produce vibrant blooms for years to come.
Summer Flowering Shrubs –
Your flowering shrubs such as Fuchsia and Buddleja can be pruned this Spring to encourage an extra burst of summertime flowers.
Pruning summer-flowering shrubs is an essential task for any gardener who wants to promote healthy growth, encourage abundant blooms, and maintain an attractive shape for their plants. Summer-flowering shrubs include a wide range of species, from hydrangeas and roses to butterfly bushes and potentillas, and each has specific pruning requirements.
The best time to prune summer-flowering shrubs depends on the species, but generally, it’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This allows you to see the overall shape of the plant and remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood before it can impact the plant’s health.
When pruning summer-flowering shrubs, it’s important to follow a few general guidelines. First, use sharp, clean pruning shears to make clean cuts at a slight angle just above a bud or leaf node. Avoid leaving stubs or ragged cuts, as these can lead to disease or pest infestations. Second, remove any crossing or inward-facing branches, as these can block light and airflow and promote disease. Finally, consider the overall shape of the shrub and remove any stems that are growing in the wrong direction or are crowding other branches.
Some summer-flowering shrubs, such as hydrangeas, require specific pruning techniques to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. For example, for mophead hydrangeas, you can remove up to one-third of the oldest stems each year to promote new growth and maintain a compact shape. For butterfly bushes, you can cut the stems back to within a few inches of the ground in late winter to promote vigorous new growth and abundant blooms.
Don’t be afraid to cut them short. Remove anything, weak or dead growth. They will thank you for it later.
Ornamental Grass –
Your deciduous grasses have withstood winter, and now it’s time to cut them down hard to encourage new growth.
Ornamental grasses come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from tall, flowing plumes to compact mounds, and each requires specific pruning techniques to promote healthy growth and maintain an attractive shape.
The best time to prune ornamental grasses depends on the species, but generally, it’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Begin by assessing the overall shape of the grass and deciding how much you want to prune. It’s important not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s total growth in a single pruning session, as this can stress the plant and impact its overall health.
When pruning, use sharp, clean pruning shears or hedge clippers to make clean cuts at a slight angle just above the ground. For tall grasses, it may be necessary to tie up the blades with twine or a bungee cord before pruning to make the process easier and prevent damage to surrounding plants or structures.
After pruning, water your ornamental grass deeply to promote new growth and help the plant recover from any stress. You can also apply a slow-release fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Some ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus, require specific pruning techniques to promote healthy growth and prevent self-seeding. For these grasses, it’s important to cut the entire plant back to within a few inches of the ground in late winter or early spring.
Cut off all the brown. Don’t be afraid to cut it pretty short. If there is some green growth starting, of course, leave that.
Plants Grown for Colorful Winter Stems –
These are your plants such as Cotinus, Dogwood and Willow. Cut them back hard early in the Spring and get those old stems out of there to encourage new growth.
Winter stems, also known as colored or ornamental bark, are a popular feature of many gardens and add a splash of color during the winter months when many other plants are dormant.
The best time to prune winter stems depends on the species, but generally, it’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Begin by assessing the overall shape of the plant and deciding how much you want to prune. It’s important not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s total growth in a single pruning session, as this can stress the plant and impact its overall health.
When pruning, use sharp, clean pruning shears to make clean cuts at a slight angle just above a bud or leaf node. Avoid leaving stubs or ragged cuts, as these can lead to disease or pest infestations. For winter stems, it’s important to cut back to a healthy bud or shoot that is growing outward, as this will promote healthy growth and prevent inward growth that can block light and airflow.
After pruning, water your plant deeply to promote new growth and help the plant recover from any stress. You can also apply a slow-release fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Some winter stems, such as dogwood and willow, require specific pruning techniques to promote healthy growth and vibrant color. For these plants, it’s important to remove any older or weaker stems each year to promote new growth and vibrant color in the remaining stems.
Spring Flowering Shrubs –
Weigela and Forsythia are among your shrubs that flower in Spring. You can prune them immediately after flowering to encourage continual flowering.
Spring-flowering shrubs include a wide range of species, from azaleas and rhododendrons to lilacs and forsythias, and each has specific pruning requirements.
The best time to prune spring-flowering shrubs depends on the species, but generally, it’s best to prune them right after they finish blooming. This allows you to enjoy the beautiful blooms while also giving the shrub plenty of time to produce new growth and flower buds for the following year.
When pruning spring-flowering shrubs, it’s important to follow a few general guidelines. First, use sharp, clean pruning shears to make clean cuts at a slight angle just above a bud or leaf node. Avoid leaving stubs or ragged cuts, as these can lead to disease or pest infestations. Second, remove any crossing or inward-facing branches, as these can block light and airflow and promote disease. Finally, consider the overall shape of the shrub and remove any stems that are growing in the wrong direction or are crowding other branches.
Some spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilacs and forsythias, require specific pruning techniques to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. For example, for lilacs, you can remove up to one-third of the oldest stems each year to promote new growth and maintain a compact shape. For forsythias, you can prune the plant back to just above ground level every few years to promote vigorous new growth and abundant blooms.
When you finish pruning, add some layers of compost or well rotted manure to give them a boost.
With a little hard work in the Spring spent pruning, you will enjoy a beautiful yard and garden all season long.
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