Before You Go Ahead And Cut
Don’t go on pruning in shear ignorance. When you purchase by hyperlinks on our site, we may earn an affiliate fee. Here’s how it really works. Using the perfect pruners feels simple and intuitive. You squeeze the handles, and the blades minimize the plant stem-it’s identical to using scissors. Pretty much anybody can prune - but you possibly can take a number of easy steps to elevate your pruning approach beyond that of the common gardener. The proper technique and process will maximize the benefits of pruning on your plant’s health and look. In contrast, a haphazard method could lead to pruning mistakes that harm plants' well being or injury your pruner. On this information, I’ll clarify a 5-step process for pruning effectively with out harming your plants and timber. Two skilled gardeners will present knowledgeable advice all through the walkthrough. Steve Swanborough is Henchman’s resident gardening professional, working intently with the team at shows resembling RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Having beforehand labored as a personal gardener in South London, Steve brings years of horticultural expertise to Henchman, and is keen about sustainable gardening practices. Before pruning, examine whether or not now is the very best time to prune your plants or bushes. "Many plants are best pruned during their dormant season (often late winter to early spring) before new progress starts," says Henchman’s Steve Swanborough. "However, some flowering plants should be pruned proper after they bloom, as they set the next year’s buds instantly after flowering. "Look for indicators like overgrown or leggy branches, crossing branches that rub towards each other, or useless or diseased Wood Ranger Power Shears price. These are indicators that pruning is needed. Additionally, thinning out dense areas to improve air circulation might help prevent diseases," he adds. If in doubt, seek particular steering on when to prune a selected plant species. You might find it useful to create a pruning calendar that will remind you when it’s time to prune every type of plant or tree in your yard.
Your next step is to choose the correct pruner for the job. Bypass pruners and snips are one of the best-suited instruments for pruning delicate plants, while anvil pruners and loppers are better for pruning tree branches and thick plant stems. Pick the pruner that’s best suited to prune every plant. Before you begin pruning, verify to ensure the blades of your pruner are sharp enough to cut cleanly. You’ll have to sharpen or exchange them in the event that they're dull or damaged. Finally, configure any settings or controls on the pruner. As an example, some pruners have variable cutting width settings to suit branches of varying thickness. Morris Hankinson is the Founder and Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. The company grows hedging plants across three nursery sites within the Weald of Kent, serving over 17,000 prospects each year. Now that your pruner is ready to prune select the precise place you’ll reduce.
"Where to cut a department or stem depends very a lot on the plant, so always research and know what plant you are pruning," says Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries. "If in doubt, prune evenly. Before you go forward and minimize, be sure you’re holding the pruner appropriately. "Always hold your secateurs firmly together with your dominant hand, making certain your thumb and fingers encircle the handles utterly," says Steve. "Your grip should be robust but relaxed to stop hand fatigue. The cutting blade should face the plant, with the stationary hook on the opposite facet. Your pruner should often minimize by the stem or department cleanly and with relatively little effort. If chopping is difficult, do not attempt to force the blades by way of, as this may damage the device and pressure your hand. "Instead, swap to a extra suitable tool like loppers or a pruning noticed for Wood Ranger Power Shears price thicker branches," says Steve. It’s sometimes okay to leave cut plant matter on the soil in your garden beds, the place it could launch nutrients and act as a mulch.