Don’t go on pruning in shear ignorance. When you purchase through links on our site, we could earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Using one of the best pruners feels easy and intuitive. You squeeze the handles, and Wood Ranger Power Shears website the blades cut the plant stem-it’s identical to using scissors. Pretty much anybody can prune - however you may take several easy steps to elevate your pruning approach past that of the average gardener. The appropriate method and Wood Ranger Power Shears website course of will maximize the benefits of pruning on your plant’s well being and look. In contrast, a haphazard method may lead to pruning errors that hurt plants' well being or damage your pruner. In this guide, I’ll explain a 5-step process for pruning effectively with out harming your plants and trees. Two professional gardeners will provide professional recommendation all through the walkthrough. Steve Swanborough is Henchman’s resident gardening knowledgeable, working carefully with the team at shows reminiscent of RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Having previously worked as a personal gardener in South London, Steve brings years of horticultural expertise to Henchman, and is captivated with sustainable gardening practices. Before pruning, Wood Ranger Power Shears website verify whether or not now could be the very best time to prune your plants or timber. "Many plants are finest pruned during their dormant season (often late winter to early spring) before new growth starts," says Henchman’s Steve Swanborough. "However, some flowering plants needs to be pruned proper after they bloom, as they set the following year’s buds immediately after flowering. "Look for signs like overgrown or leggy branches, crossing branches that rub against each other, or lifeless or diseased wooden. These are indicators that pruning is needed. Additionally, thinning out dense areas to improve air circulation can assist prevent diseases," he provides. If in doubt, seek specific steerage on when to prune a specific plant species. You would possibly discover it useful to create a pruning calendar that will remind you when it’s time to prune every sort of plant or tree in your yard.
Your next step is to choose the correct pruner for the job. Bypass pruners and snips are the most effective-suited instruments for pruning delicate plants, whereas anvil pruners and loppers are higher for pruning tree branches and thick plant stems. Pick the pruner that’s best suited to prune each plant. Before you start pruning, examine to ensure the blades of your pruner are sharp sufficient to chop cleanly. You’ll need to sharpen or substitute them in the event that they're dull or broken. Finally, configure any settings or controls on the pruner. For instance, some pruners have variable slicing width settings to suit branches of varying thickness. Morris Hankinson is the Founder and Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. The corporate grows hedging plants across three nursery sites within the Weald of Kent, serving over 17,000 customers annually. Now that your pruner is able to prune choose the exact place you’ll lower.
"Where to cut a department or stem depends very much on the plant, so at all times analysis and know what plant you might be pruning," says Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries. "If in doubt, prune lightly. Before you go forward and cut, Wood Ranger Power Shears website make sure you’re holding the pruner appropriately. "Always hold your secateurs firmly with your dominant hand, making certain your thumb and fingers encircle the handles utterly," says Steve. "Your grip must be sturdy yet relaxed to prevent hand fatigue. The chopping blade ought to face the plant, with the stationary hook on the alternative aspect. Your pruner ought to usually cut by means of the stem or branch cleanly and with relatively little effort. If chopping is troublesome, do not attempt to drive the blades by, as this may harm the device and pressure your hand. "Instead, swap to a more appropriate tool like loppers or a pruning noticed for thicker branches," says Steve. It’s typically okay to leave minimize plant matter on the soil in your garden beds, the place it could possibly launch nutrients and act as a mulch.