Prune Ideas, Tips & Guides

Maintaining roses involves much effort, and if you want to learn How to Prune Roses Like Master Gardeners, here are all the secrets!

Each May and June I’m asked, “Why didn’t my lilacs bloom?” only to find out in the next sentence that the questioners had literally nipped the plants in the (flower) bud with late summer, fall, winter or earliest springtime pruning, long after the new year’s blossoms had been set.Early bloomers flower on old wood. Go out and look at a forsythia or a lilac: Unless you pruned in summer or fall, you’ll see flower buds already in place, dormant but there. If you prune now, it won’t flower now. Make sense?Generally speaking, don’t prune spring-blooming shrubs and trees more than a month or so after they finish blooming. After flowering, prune immediately. You will typically not harm the pla

FULL SUN (or light shade in hotter zones), and well-drained soil that’s high in organic matter is the basic regimen (though the sweetbay magnolia, M. virginiana, can also take a wet spot). Give the others those requirements, plus a light layer of aged organic mulch, and they generally will thrive. Fertilizing isn’t needed, says Andrew. (At Scott they only mulch the circles of trees in lawn areas, using a combination of leaf compost and one-year-old composted wood chips.)Magnolias are not the easiest to plant under, however, because of their fleshy, moisture-hogging root systems.  “Some plants that can take dry shade will make a go of it,” he says, suggesting Epimedium, or Asarum, or Christmas fern. Among bulbs, try Scilla, or Chionodoxa, or even toadlilies (Tricyrtis), he recommends.Magnolia grandiflora, the so-called Southern magnol

“Now what was I supposed to do with this one?” we say, scratching our heads while not-so-accidentally turning away to some other task, and leaving the botanical sprung mattress innards just hanging there. Boing! I asked Dan Long of Brushwood Nursery to help me (us!) get past our “pruning fears and misconceptions,” as he calls them.The how-to pruning story is below in Q&A format, plus pruning diagrams … and a podcast full of more vine-growing tips beyond the subject of pruning.the clematis-pruning q&a with dan longQ. On the Brushwood website, and in other Clematis references, pruning instructions always refer back to three types, or groups. Ca

Pruning a money tree helps maintain its size and shape while encouraging healthy growth.

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a highly popular vine that responds well when cut back to manage its size and spread, or to encourage branching for denser growth.We link to vendors to help you f

As heavenly bamboo shrubs and my middle school yearbook photos can attest, there’s a fine line between an organic, natural look… and just being a mess.A well-pruned Nandina domestica man

With the right approach, anyone can prune a crassula ovata like an expert and keep this good-luck plant looking at its best. Note down the details shared below to learn How to Prune a Jade Plant Like an Expert.

References to “new” or “old” wood are common when it comes to pruning.And understanding which is which is key, because pruning t

Q: Can you prune Fatsia japonica plants, and if so, when is a good time and how much should you prune? DB, Co Galway

If you're looking for tidier-looking plants with healthy blooms, learning how to deadhead and prune your roses is important. Home gardeners who grow modern roses, including the relatively new shrub or landscape rose bushes, should consider these techniques essential to the plant's care. Before making any snips to your plant, though, it's important to consider the type of rose, how it blooms, and the time of season. Here's what you need to know to encourage blooms on your roses.

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

We dutifully prune our fruit trees and our rose bushes, but not all of us are taking the same care with our tomatoes.We link to vendors to help you find re

A thoroughly satisfying job when in the right mood, pruning roses has a methodical enjoyment to it, not to mention the cathartic, ruthless thrill cutting out the old. As well as tidying the garden, pruning helps to prevent pests and sickness and stimulates the rose's flower power and vigour, ensuring a joyous summer mass of scent and colour.  

Fuchsias respond super well to pruning, and unlike roses or lilacs, you don’t run the risk of ruining this year’s display if you mess things up a bit. Phew! Isn’t it nice to work with a plant that is totally low pressure?Having said that, you don’t just w

Pruning zucchini puts me in mind of the catchy seven beats that tap out “Shave and a haircut…” and then the response, “Two bits!”The knocking pattern for gags origi

Loropetalum, also known as the Chinese fringe flower, is a beautiful and versatile evergreen shrub that is native to Asia. In this article, we will discuss When and How To Prune Loropetalum – to help you keep your shrub looking its best.

Morning glories are vigorous vines that can grow ten feet tall or larger, producing attractive funnel-shaped blooms through the summer.In order to maximize the quantity of bl

If you’re new to fruit tree growing and pruning, you absolutely can’t go wrong with plums.Some trees will stop producing

Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb that’s perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11 and a summer annual in other regions.We link to vendors to h

Pothos is one of the hardiest houseplants in existence and will reward you with appealing evergreen foliage if you care for it correctly. And one of the best ways to care for it is knowing How to Prune Pothos So They Grow More!

If you want to enjoy a bountiful yield for your entire family, then It is important to know how to maintain your vegetable plants. Here are some cool tips on How to Prune Eggplants for Super Harvest!

Mature Rose of sharon bush can grow up to 12 feet tall and if you want to maintain its natural form you don’t need to prune it much. Basically rose of sharon flower buds appear from new growth and it needs to be pruned in late winter or early spring.

Shasta Daisies, or Leucanthemumx superbum, are known for their plentiful, eye-catching blooms.So, how do you make sure

Crabapple does not need any introduction; it’s very popular because of the colorful and hardy nature. It is a low maintenance tree; however, it does require pruning from time to time. Even if it doesn’t require heavy pruning, knowing the right way is essential, so you don’t end up jeopardizing the tree’s health. Here are all the details on Pruning Crab Apple Tree the right way!

If you’re the proud owner of a maple tree, congrats on having such an amazing plant in your landscape! The brilliant foliage and fall color of various Acer species makes them true works of art!However, what sets a maple tree

Croton, Codiaeum variegatum, a native of Australia and Southeast Asia, may be cultivated as a garden specimen or as a houseplant.We link to vendors to help you find relevan

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) should be pruned as part of your regular garden maintenance routine, just like other fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, to encourage abundant berry production while supporting overall health.We link to vendors to help you f

A bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia spp.), as a whole, is a lot like a gorgeous opera performance.The beautiful flowers, with their appearanc

There are a few plants that are the champions of cool-weather growing and cabbage is one of them.It comes in so many colors, shapes, and sizes,

Clematis are beautiful, showy vines with gorgeous flowers, attractive seed heads, and a highly ornate climbing or sprawling habit.They bloom in spring, summer, or fall, depend

Ornamental grasses are increasingly being used in our landscapes as an alternative to shrubs.In any region of the country, you can find nati

Highly popular for their gorgeous flowers and exquisite herbal perfume, the best way to keep lavender plants at their peak is to become skilled at pruning.We link to vendors to help you find relevant produc

Beautiful flowering shrubs, spirea are enthusiastic growers with woody or cane-like stems that benefit from an annual pruning.We link to vendors to help you fi

I can’t imagine a summer without geraniums. They’re so cheap at the store but they give you seemingly endless blossoms in vibrant colors that defy description.If you aren’t into h

Perennial asters are transition plants that refresh gardens from late summer to fall with masses of small blossoms in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white.In our guide to growing a

If you are not sure about Why and How To Prune Herbs, then don’t worry. Here’s a detailed guide onEverything About Pruning Herbs to help you out!