| Gardeners in cold winter climates are usually well | | | | be delayed to the end of winter, so that the |
| aware that the autumn is hardly the ideal season | | | | young growth, which has been partially simulated |
| for pruning both evergreen and deciduous trees | | | | by the pruning, will not appear until all danger of |
| and shrubs. It's sometimes however, less obvious | | | | frosts has passed for the year. The advice you |
| to gardeners in Mediterranean and other mild | | | | may read about pruning at the onset of winter, |
| winter climates, where frosts if they occur at all, | | | | applies to cold winter climates, not to mild ones |
| are light and occasional. | | | | such as in California, The Middle East, and South |
| Pruning evergreens in cold weather greatly | | | | West Australia. |
| increases the possibility of bacterial and fungal | | | | A further danger lurking for Mediterranean climate |
| infection, resulting in the development of rot | | | | gardeners concerns some trees and shrubs of |
| around the pruning cuts. While on the other hand, | | | | tropical or sub-tropical origin, that drop their leaves |
| it is common knowledge, hopefully, that deciduous | | | | in the winter, but are not naturally deciduous |
| plants should be pruned in their dormant season, | | | | species. These are often more sensitive to cold |
| which is of course during the winter. | | | | temperatures than many evergreen plants, like |
| The trouble in Mediterranean type climates is that | | | | Olive and Viburnum, and are never seen in cold |
| the transition from warm summer weather to | | | | climates. They are however, especially vulnerable |
| cold wintry temperatures is often sudden and | | | | to the damage caused by autumn and winter |
| abrupt. One day at the end of October, it can be | | | | pruning. It is essential therefore, to know what |
| 27c in the shade. The shrubs appear too open | | | | your tree or bush is and where it originates, |
| and leggy, looking as though they need a good | | | | before assaulting it with the saw and secateurs! |
| prune to encourage dense and compact growth. | | | | A simple rule, worth remembering, is that |
| Pruning the trees and bushes at such a time, can | | | | evergreen, or cold sensitive trees and shrubs |
| be highly detrimental to their health, because the | | | | should only be pruned from the spring through the |
| new juvenile growth will be damaged, inviting | | | | summer. The end of the summer is probably the |
| infection, if early frosts occur in November. These | | | | last chance for a major pruning operation. If the |
| may be rare, but they do happen. | | | | weather is still warm, but winter only a couple of |
| Concerning deciduous species, the danger of rot | | | | weeks away, then it is best to accept that you |
| that is caused by fungi or bacteria entering | | | | have missed the boat and delay the pruning until |
| through the pruning wounds, is no less acute. It is | | | | the following spring. |
| for this reason, that pruning woody plants should | | | | |