| Pruning that is done by the amateur gardener | | | | only the most vigorous and strongly growing |
| is carried out to maintain a plant that has | | | | branches so as not to put too much stress on |
| been already trained in a nursery. However, | | | | the plant's other stems.Pruning is also |
| many keen gardeners grow shrubs and even | | | | carried out to maintain the youngest shoots |
| trees from cuttings and seed, even though it | | | | which are the most productive. The last but |
| is better to leave a large tree to the | | | | by no means the least important aim in |
| experts, because of the special equipment | | | | pruning is to protect the plant's health.All |
| required and the risks involved. The | | | | branches that are dry, diseased, broken or |
| principles that must guide the gardener when | | | | damaged in any way should be removed by |
| he picks up a pair of secateurs should always | | | | cutting into the nearest healthy wood |
| be 'a well pruned plant is a beautiful and | | | | immediately above a well-developed shoot. |
| healthy plant' and 'pruning well carried out | | | | Smaller branches that are too slender, too |
| should almost be undetectable'.Trees do not | | | | thick or that cross in the center of the |
| necessarily have to be pruned. The reason | | | | plant or any that are badly positioned should |
| for pruning them is to shape or keep a | | | | also be removed by cutting at the base of the |
| specimen that displays the finest features of | | | | young wood but not the main branch from which |
| a particular species. Any work carried out | | | | it is growing.These actions, which are |
| should be limited to encouraging or assisting | | | | intended to eliminate possible sources of |
| the natural development of each plant as it | | | | disease and to maintain an open, regular |
| grows from a young tree into a fully grown | | | | shape into which sun and air can penetrate |
| one and to avoid defects that might turn out | | | | freely, should be carried out annually on all |
| to be harmful to the tree.Shrubs can be | | | | plants regardless of when they flower. In |
| pruned to emphasize their ornamental features | | | | areas with a very hot climate this can be the |
| but it is important to strike a balance | | | | end of summer. In cold areas it is better to |
| between encouraging the production of flowers | | | | wait until the end of winter. Where there is |
| and allowing the plant to continue to grow | | | | snow it is prudent to anticipate possible |
| and develop. Another objective in pruning is | | | | damage and in autumn cut the longest braches |
| to maintain the characteristic form of each | | | | back or tie them into bundles.Observation and |
| species, encouraging the branches and stems | | | | an understanding of the ways in which a plant |
| to develop and grow in a way that allows the | | | | grows are useful when deciding if and when to |
| plant to achieve its natural | | | | prune. First it is important to check |
| potential.Sometimes pruning is needed to | | | | whether the plant flowers on wood grown |
| encourage the growth of a properly balanced | | | | during the same year as the flowering taking |
| plant. The weakest shoots may need to be cut | | | | place or on wood that grew in a previous |
| back hard to one, two or three shoots to | | | | year. This knowledge will dictate the best |
| stimulate vigorous growth or it may be | | | | time to prune. |
| necessary to reduce by two or three shoots | | | | |