| Correct pruning in the spring is one of the most | | | | end of the flowering, while being careful not to |
| important factors in obtaining exciting results from | | | | remove the spent flowers of fruit trees. |
| your garden plants. As getting it right is largely | | | | Pruning Perennials |
| about timing, it's important to be on the ball at this | | | | A common mistake with perennial bedding plants |
| time of year with your secateurs, loppers and | | | | is to wait until the last of the flowers have |
| cutters. Spring being the onset of the growing | | | | withered before deadheading and pruning back the |
| season, and in dry Mediterranean climates, the | | | | plants. Many species in use in hot, dry climate |
| primary growing season, is the ideal time for | | | | gardens fall into a semi dormant state in the |
| pruning most, but not all plants. | | | | summer, while flowering is their final burst of |
| Other than with trees, which are a separate | | | | activity towards the end of spring. |
| category, the purpose of pruning is to induce | | | | It is far better to give up on the last 25% or so |
| more and superior flowering, denser and more | | | | of flowers and cut the plants back in order to |
| compact growth, or both together. Cutting back | | | | induce vegetative growth and thus cause the |
| herbaceous perennials for instance, prevents the | | | | plant to "cover itself" in foliage before the onset |
| plants from becoming bald and leggy, while pruning | | | | of summer. This applies particularly to Ice Plants, |
| shrubs maintains bushy, green growth from the | | | | African Daisies, and many herbs of Mediterranean |
| top to the ground. | | | | origin, such as Sage, Artemisia, Lavender, and |
| What not to Prune | | | | Thyme. |
| Remember that deciduous trees and shrubs | | | | Pruning Shrubs and Bushes |
| should never be pruned in the spring, because of | | | | Without pruning, most shrubs ape their larger |
| the sap rising in the branches at this time. | | | | cousins, and develop a tree-like habit in growth |
| Deciduous plants, i.e. broadleaved plants that | | | | and form. Sometimes, a bush grown as a small |
| originate from cold winter climates, should be | | | | tree can be a valuable and creative addition to the |
| pruned during their dormancy in the winter, | | | | garden. But in general, the role of shrubs is to |
| although light pruning is possible in the summer. | | | | create a screen or background of dense, |
| It is also important to know that flowering shrubs | | | | compact foliage. To wait until the middle of the |
| whose blooms develop from buds that originated | | | | summer, is to cause the plant to waist the |
| in the previous spring will not flower if pruned | | | | valuable energy it has expended by its spring |
| now. Lilacs and some species roses are typical | | | | growth. |
| examples, and the complaint- "my rose bush | | | | While tree pruning involves the careful and |
| never seems to flower" - is a common refrain. | | | | judicious removal of a small number of limbs, |
| Similarly, fruit trees that belong to this category | | | | shrubs can be shortened by about a half of their |
| will never produce fruit if the flower buds are | | | | height, while old wood can be removed altogether. |
| accidentally removed by early pruning. As a rule | | | | This applies to flowering shrubs like Hibiscus, |
| therefore, delay pruning trees and shrubs that | | | | Trumpet Vines, or Cestrum, as to purely |
| flower on the previous year's growth, until the | | | | landscaping bushes. |