| Gardening during the cold months of the year | | | | Have a look for the small branches that don't get |
| takes on two different aspects: my favourite | | | | much sunlight. These are just a drain on the plants |
| aspect is when I can sit in my comfy chair and | | | | resources, and they will never grow. Remove |
| dream of the warm sun on the back of my neck | | | | them. Any branches that are crossing over other |
| as I plant my new annuals, while leafing through | | | | branches should also be removed. Clean up so |
| the latest gardening catalogue from my favourite | | | | that all branches start at the trunk and are aimed |
| gardening club. | | | | at the outside of the tree, where they will, |
| The second type of gardening during winter is the | | | | eventually, get all the sunlight they need. |
| maintenance that needs to be done when the | | | | Once you've pruned away the internal "rubbish", |
| plants aren't growing. In my part of the world, | | | | step back again and assess the shape of the tree. |
| where we don't get snow, ever, pretty much any | | | | Decide on where you'll leave the edge of the |
| day can be suitable to pruning and other | | | | plant, and start pruning branches that are outside |
| maintenance, but if you live somewhere where it | | | | this line. Start at the top of the tree and work |
| gets below freezing, then wait for a day where | | | | your way down. Prune any buds that are on or |
| it's a little warmer. This is because when the | | | | just short of the edge, as these will grow during |
| temperature drops below freezing, the sap in the | | | | the next season, and will need to be removed |
| trees also hardens, and this can make the wood | | | | next winter. |
| very brittle and prone to shattering, which is | | | | Plants, and trees, in general, have two different |
| obviously not good for the tree. | | | | types of branches: terminal and lateral. Terminal |
| Dealing with deciduous trees during winter makes | | | | branches have one bud at the end. These are the |
| sense, as they are dormant, and have shed their | | | | branches that you'd put a tree house on, |
| leaves, so you can see what you're doing. | | | | obviously if the tree was large enough! Lateral |
| Evergreen trees, like conifers, if you're going to | | | | branches branch off from the terminal branch and |
| prune them, need to be pruned at the end of the | | | | lead to the "fullness" of the tree. These fill in the |
| growing season; i.e. autumn/fall and winter. | | | | spaces between the terminal branches. |
| Before you get anywhere near cutting tools, step | | | | Too many people have the false idea that pruning |
| back and look at the overall shape of the tree. | | | | will harm the tree. Sure, if you prune down to the |
| Decide how you want it to look and what needs | | | | root ball, the plant will probably not survive. |
| to be removed while assessing the best way to | | | | However, if you follow sensible guidelines, your |
| get it to look like that. Next, walk up close to the | | | | tree will be healthier, grow stronger and live |
| tree, and have a look at the internal structure of | | | | longer. Remember, if you prune too far, it will |
| the branches. This is where you'll be starting. | | | | grow back. |