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Annual Pruning Guide 🌳

Pruning is an important part of regular garden maintenance — but timing is everything. Use this guide to find out the best time to prune different varieties of trees and shrubs. Getting it right ensures healthy plants and better flowering or fruiting.

Select your plant type

When to prune

Best time to prune

Avoid pruning

Possible, with care

General Pruning Guidelines

✂️ Remove dead wood

Cut back dead branches to where they join the main stem. Always cut to just above a healthy bud or shoot.

🦠 Remove diseased and damaged wood

Branches that are badly diseased, cankered, or broken by wind or snow should be removed promptly. Dispose of — do not compost.

🌱 Remove weak and overcrowded wood

Remove very thin and weak stems. If branches are tightly packed at the centre of the plant, remove some old wood to improve appearance and vigour.

🌿 Remove suckers

If the plant is grafted, remove suckers growing from below the graft. Some non-grafted shrubs also produce suckers that should be removed.

🪓 Remove overgrowth

Remove awkwardly placed or problematic branches (e.g. overhanging a path). Tackle this every year and don't leave it until it becomes a significant task.

🔪 Use sharp, clean tools

Always use sharp secateurs or pruning saws. Clean tools between plants to avoid spreading disease. Make clean angled cuts to shed water.