Home Gardener's Pruning (UK Only). David Squire

Stand on the ground to prune plants; old boxes and stools can quickly slip from underneath you. Use an electric-powered hedge-trimmer or chainsaw unless a power-breaking device is installed in the circuit. Should a cable inadvertently be cut, this device instantly cuts off the power supply. Treat saws, pruning shears and power cutters carelessly – they can cut off fingers as well as twigs.

      Plant groups and treatments

      Many garden plants benefit from pruning, ranging from shrubs and climbers to apples and raspberries. Here is a broad idea of them, together with the principles of their treatment. Some fruiting types, such as trees and grape vines, have two distinct pruning stages in their lives. The first stage encompasses their formative years, when their structure is being developed; the second stage is when they are established and regularly producing fruits.

       What are the benefits of pruning?

      LARGE TREES

      If, with a new garden, you have inherited a large tree – perhaps an Oak, Ash or Beech – it is more than likely that it has been neglected for many years. These are magnificent trees and if not checked regularly may deteriorate. Heavy snowfalls and strong winds break branches, and unless removed they could be dangerous to you and your neighbors. Some large branches can be cut off in stages (see page 9), but for very large trees it is safer to call in a professional tree surgeon rather than tackle the job yourself.

       Snow tapping

       Damage from snow falling on evergreen shrubs can be reduced by using a Bamboo cane to lightly tap the stems to dislodge snow before it freezes. Take care not to damage leaves.

      BAMBOO CARE

      Heavy falls of snow devastate Bamboos, bending canes at ground level and breaking or distorting them. If left, those that are bent may not recover and the only solution is to cut them down to ground level. However, if the snow can be removed quickly, before it freezes on the leaves, there is every possibility that the canes will recover within a few weeks.

      Incidentally, wear strong gloves when handling the canes as many, when split, have sharp, razor-like edges that soon cut hands.

       Ornamental shrubs

      Weigela

      Shrubs introduce a wider range of flowers than trees and many have a compact nature that suits small gardens. Some flowering shrubs, like Mahonia ‘Charity’ (Holly Grape), flower in winter, while others such as Magnolia stellata bloom in spring. Additionally, Hibiscus syriacus and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ create magnificent displays in late summer.

      Many shrubs have colored or variegated leaves, while others reveal their glory in berries, such as Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii (Beauty Bush), Pyracanthas and Gaultheria mucronata.

      Shrubs usually need more pruning than trees, and for flowering types this is indicated by the season in which they bear flowers (see pages 14–15 for advice on pruning these shrubs).

       Ornamental trees

      Prunus ‘Kanzan’

      These are varied and include flowering trees such as spring-flowering Cherry trees and early summer-flowering Laburnums. There are also trees with beautifully colored foliage; a good example is Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst,’ with yellow leaves. Then there are trees with colored bark, including Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple), Acer pensylvanicum (Snakebark Maple) and Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch or Canoe Birch), with superbly colored bark that will create interest throughout the year. Additionally, some trees have berries that bring welcome color to winter, which can be a dull period.

      Few of these trees need regular pruning, other than ensuring that branches are not damaged by strong wind or heavy snowfalls. Always make pruning repairs as soon as possible.

       Climbers

      Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’

      These are especially welcome in gardens as they not only create interest through their flowers and leaves but also provide seclusion and privacy. Some climbers have a natural tendency to climb, while others, such as Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter-flowering Jasmine), are nature’s leaners. Ivies, of course, have no hesitation to all but glue themselves to walls and to scale great heights.

      Pruning many of the climbers that are regularly seen in gardens is described on pages 18–39.

      Do not think of climbers as being solely for scaling boundaries and house walls; by constructing a free-standing trellis about 7 ft (2.1 m) high and positioning it 2½–3 ft (75–90 cm) from a boundary fence it is possible to create greater privacy.

       Fruit

       Apple

      The range of fruit that can be grown in a garden is wide, from apples and pears to soft fruits such as raspberries. Grapes are another possibility. Although these fruits are grown in quite different ways – from bushes and trees to canes and as climbers – they all need regular and special pruning (see pages 62–77).

      In many areas, birds soon destroy fruit buds, causing irreparable damage. Therefore, in such circumstances it is best to choose relatively low forms and to grow them in a wire cage that is 8–10 ft (2.4–3 m) high. Although initially expensive, this is the best, long-term solution to a bird problem. If the problem is neglected, both growth and flowering will be decimated by birds in a short space of time.

       Hedges

      Ligustrum ovalifolium

      Many shrubs can be used to form hedges. These range from the ubiquitous but reliable Ligustrum ovalifolium (Privet), in both its all-green and yellow-leaved forms, to flowering types. Some hedges have a rural nature and are often formed of a medley of wayside plants, while others are more formal and perhaps produced from a stately conifer such as Taxus baccata (Yew). With all hedges, it is especially important to encourage them to have a leaf-clad base (see pages 40–43).

      As well as creating privacy, hedges are especially beneficial in windy and exposed areas, where they help to reduce the damaging nature of strong, blustery winds.

       Roses