Good pruning keeps plants healthy and gives them a nice shape. Bad pruning can damage them for a whole season.
Pruning can feel confusing because different plants need different treatment. Following a few basic rules will keep most garden plants healthy, and you can always ask a gardener for help with the tricky ones.
1. Use clean, sharp tools
Sharp secateurs make clean cuts that heal quickly. Clean tools stop disease spreading. Wipe your tools with a little disinfectant when moving from a diseased plant to a healthy one.
2. Remove dead and damaged branches first
This can be done at any time of year. Dead wood can carry disease and pests, so removing it is always good for the plant.
3. Prune flowering shrubs after flowering
Cutting too early removes the buds that would have flowered. Spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned after flowering, while many summer-flowering ones can be pruned in late winter.
4. Cut just above a bud
Make an angled cut a few millimetres above an outward-facing bud. This encourages new growth to grow outwards and keeps the centre of the plant open to light and air.
5. Do not over-prune
Removing too much at once stresses the plant. As a rule, do not remove more than a third of a plant in one season.
6. Leave big trees to professionals
Large branches near roofs, walls or power lines need trained hands. Trained teams have the right equipment and know how to drop branches safely.
Quick checklist
- Use clean, sharp tools
- Remove dead and damaged branches first
- Prune flowering shrubs after flowering
- Cut just above a bud
- Do not over-prune
- Leave big trees to professionals
Pruning and tree trimming
Our gardeners prune shrubs, hedges and trees safely for homes and complexes. Ask us to assess your garden and set up a pruning schedule for the year.
Talk to Plambo Projects
Request a free quote, call or WhatsApp +27 61 499 1168 or +27 64 523 6703, or email info@plamboprojects.co.za. We beat any written quote.