Pruning Flowering Shrubs

Pruning give a shape to the shrubs and trees and it is a common term for every gardener. Though it is a familiar term but it is practiced in a most improper way, which prevents the healthy growth of plant.

Plants should be pruned before it grows to its full size. Sometimes you need to replace the plant when it grows larger than the normal pruning period. Planting dwarf plants is also a better idea because avoid the hassles of pruning at regular intervals. You can get plenty of information about dwarf plants in our other section.

Types of tools required for pruning plants

• Anvil type hand shears
• Scissors type hand shears.
• Lopping shears.
• Pruning saw.
• Hedge shears.

The adequate tool for trimming your outdoor plant

• Anvil type hand shears are the most well known tool for general pruning. It is used to cut branches that are of ¾ inch in diameter.
• Scissors type hand shears is required for close pruning and precise cutting.
• Lopping shears are required for trimming the branches that ¾ inches to 1and ½ inches in diameter.

Pruning saws are suitable to cut the branches that are larger than 1 and ½ inches in diameter.

Hedge shears are used for trimming already shaped plants. They cannot be used for any other pruning purpose.

Caring of your pruning tools

• The tools that are been used to trim outdoor shrubs or prune plants should be always sharp.
• Always clean your entire trimming tools with denatured alcohol specially after pruning infected plants or shrubs.

Adequate time of pruning

• The ideal time for pruning the plants is the early springtime when the plants are inactive.
• Pruning of the flowering shrubs should be done while the blooming is over for that particular season. They can be pruned but then the flowering will again become inactive for that particular season.
• It is better not to do excess pruning in late summer or early fall as it will destroy the flowering by excess freezing.