Pruning Advice: When To Prune and How To Do It

We often get asked when to prune the garden and it’s quite a difficult question to answer as there are many factors to consider. From why you are pruning to what plant you’re pruning, your location, and the growth behaviour of plants in your region, in this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get pruning in your garden. 

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Pruning Tips

Prioritise Dormancy

The general rule for pruning is that it’s best done when plants are dormant. This reduces stress on the plant and makes it easier to see and access the branches to prune them.

Any Time, Any Place for Dead Branches

Prune dead, diseased, and damaged branches at any time of year. 

By removing diseased growth, you’re making the plant healthier and allowing it to focus its energy on desired growth and fruiting. You’re also helping it withstand harsh weather conditions.

When to Prune?

When to Prune Spring Flowering Plants

Spring flowering plants should be pruned straight after flowering has finished.

When to Prune Summer Flowering Plants

Summer flowering plants should be pruned in late winter. Pruning before flowering may result in the accidental removal of immature buds or affect general bud formation.

When to Prune Fruit Trees

For fruit trees, prune after the main fruiting season has finished. The way you prune will depend on what type of fruit tree/bush it is. 

Fruit trees may need additional pruning and thinning during the fruiting period. Remove excess/overcrowded fruit which may weigh down branches causing them to break. This also allows for better formation of the remaining fruit. Finally, you should thin out the growth of the tree to allow better air movement through the tree.

When to Prune Berry Bushes

Berry bushes should be pruned after fruiting finishes. Varieties that fruit on the current year's wood can be pruned back to ground level after fruiting. For varieties that bear fruit on two-year-old canes, remove any canes that have already borne fruit and leave the new canes for next year’s crop.

What Tools are Used for Pruning?

The golden rule is to use the right-sized tool for the job. Secateurs are perfect for small and soft pruning jobs of branches with diameters smaller than your index finger, for example, and small buds can be pinched out using your fingers. Loppers and saws are required for harder wood and larger pruning jobs. 

Use sharp/well-maintained tools to prune, such as the Darlac Diamond Sharpener, because a clean, sharp cut will heal quicker and reduce the risk of disease. 

Avoid crushing the limb or tearing the bark back when pruning and prune as close to the collar as possible but avoid damaging the main limb. The collar is the swelling around the joint where a branch joins the main limb.

Where to Buy Pruning Tools

Ready to get pruning? So are we! With a quality range of affordable Darlac tools, we’re here to help with all your pruning and lopping needs. We also have a fantastic garden advice blog designed for home gardeners looking to improve their crops.