Pruning shrubs and
climbers
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 back to Pruning
What happens when you
prune?
'Growth follows the knife,' as the old saying goes, meaning
that after a plant is pruned, new growth is stimulated. On shrubs that have an
established root system, when you take away some of the branches -especially
old or unwanted ones - all the energy is directed into the buds and shoots that
remain, causing them to grow with increased vigour. And more vigorous growth
leads, almost always, to extra bloom.
Most, but by no means all shrubs
benefit from pruning. Even those that do benefit may not need pruning every
year. If you are in doubt, avoid pruning until you can find out more. An
unpruned shrub is unlikely to suffer but if you prune the wrong one, you might
regret it!
In a small garden, pruning may be
essential to keep your shrubs to size but even if space is unlimited, certain
plants will always perform better if given an annual going over. Here are some
general rules to remember:
• Cut just above a bud
- preferably an outward facing one.
• Cut as cleanly as possible.
If a stem cracks or crushes, make another clean cut lower
down.
• Always cut out branches or stems that cross over each
other, or that are rubbing together.
• Remove any old or diseased
branches, cutting well below the infected area, through healthy
stem.
• As a general rule, prune to create an open, airy shape -
roughly like a wine glass - with a hollow centre, and branches evenly arranged
all the way around.
• Clear away your prunings. Leaving them lying
around may encourage disease.
When to prune?
Time
for pruning depends on the shrub, and particularly on its flowering season. A
useful general rule runs like this:
If the plant flowers before the longest day (21st June) prune
immediately after flowering. Plants that flower later in summer can be pruned
in spring, just before growth begins.
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In
addition:
• Such spring flowers as forsythia, mock orange and
flowering currant can be pruned in May, as soon as the flowers fade. Remove
whole flowering stems to encourage new leads which will bloom next
year.
• Summer-flowering plants like Buddleja can be cut hard back
in March, as they will bloom on new branches from July
onwards.
• Roses, which flower both before and after the longest
day can be pruned both ways: in late winter, to promote vigorous growth, but
also dead-headed in summer to encourage later blooms.
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