Home > Projects >

How to Prune

You will need: Secateurs, Pruning Saw, Gloves

The first rule of pruning is to remove the four Ds. Dead, Dying, Diseased and Damaged. This is best done in winter when you can see the problem. Aftr that prune for reversion and tidying.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

For larger branches, remove any obvious dead, diseased or damaged wood, cutting back to live wood using a clean saw.

Step 2

Smaller shoots can be cut using clean secatuers cutting back just above an outward facing bud.

Step 3

A green shoot on a varigated shrub needs removing at its base. This is known as reversion and any all green shoots are stonger and eventually take over, changing the look of the plant.

Step 4

Remove old flower heads from plants like lavendar in spring to allow room for new growth.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Hosepipe Bans Continue Across Southern England

Autumn Estate Tractor and Trailer Tours launched at Blenheim Palace

Give the Gift of Nourishment to Garden Birds This Christmas With Peckish and Gardman

Essential Gardening Jobs for Late Summer

Gardening Projects for December

---

How to: Maintenance Pruning

How to keep Containers Well-Drained

How to Protect a Climber

How to Protect Containers

Latest Gardening Videos

---

How to Grow Orchids

How can I stop my roses suffering from wind-rock?

When and how should I prune a jostaberry?

Growing Geraniums

How should I overwinter a potted Canna lily?

How do I insulate my greenhouse?

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Keukenhof
Lisse, Netherlands

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
Tokyo, Japan

Monet's Garden, Giverny
Giverny, France

Medellin Botanical Garden
Medellin, Columbia

Kenrokuen Garden
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra
Granada, Spain