If you imagine that pruning is one of the dark arts of gardening, then you are not alone. Many gardeners share the concern. Although pruning can be a complex and difficult task, most often it is very straightforward. Once you've worked out how, you'll find pruning to be a pleasure, satisfying, and even cathartic. The problem is knowing when to stop! Whatever you do, don't become what everyone calls a 'chopper'.

A chopper goes around hacking away willy-nilly with no thought to what they are doing to a plant. A chopper is often motivated by a desire to get things hacked back to a manageable size hoping that he/she can re-assert some control over an otherwise spreading garden. Even when you are hacking down a derelict plot or some overgrown shrubbery, there is a way of doing it with a lot less long-term damage to any plants you have in mind to save.

Reasons to Prune Your Plants:

It is the pruning that allows the plants to be healthy and alive. Otherwise, in the absence of pruning, plants, such as in old apple orchards and vineyards, may be very tall and untidy, which slows down flowering and fruiting. Pruning encourages vigorous new growth with brighter flowers, larger leaves, and more abundant fruits and seeds. Light pruning, such as would be given to a hedge, generates modest healthy growth; hard pruning, cutting a shrub down to a few centimeters above ground can stimulate vigorous regrowth. Hazel and buddleja respond particularly well to regular hard pruning. Not all plants respond so well to pruning, so it's important to know your plant before you start snipping with your secateurs or shears. Read more about Ultimate Guide on How to Prune Shrubs.

This also shapes plants for aesthetic purposes in topiary, bonsai, hedges, standard roses, espalier fruit trees, and pleached limes. These plants require frequent pruning to keep them in neat shapes. Nature will always try to revert them into their wild forms but through the ages. Many plants are naturally of beautiful shape, requiring little intervention, such as Japanese maples and conifers. Read more about How To Plant, Prune, and Fertilize Cypress Trees.

Now, regarding plants in particular: 

Tools and Equipment for Pruning

Use the following tools for Pruning:

Secateurs:

No serious gardener is without a pair of secateurs. They are long-handed, curved, or angled blades designed for cutting soft growth and woody stems up to 1cm in diameter. You should have at least one really good pair of bypass secateurs for clean cuts and another of anvil secateurs for the tougher stuff. Not for cutting metal, dropping- all the above will irreparably ding the blades.

Loppers:

These are used for branches from 1cm to 3cm in diameter and give extra leverage with the long handles. They also come in anvil and bypass types, just as secateurs do, but are used for heavier pruning applications.

Pruning Saws:

A pruning saw is designed to cut green wood. Deep teeth, as in a saw specifically designed for this purpose, prevent it from getting clogged. They can be used for branches from 2cm to 10cm in diameter to ensure a clean cut through softer wood.

Shears:

Ideal for trimming fine stems on plants such as box, lavender, and topiary, they shouldn't become a substitute for secateurs when working on thicker stems. If they don't cut easily, then they may need sharpening.

Snips:

Used for very fine work, like the maintenance of bonsai, they are also brilliant for trimming herbs, cutting string, and picking flowers. Investing in the right tools makes pruning more efficient and enjoyable, helping keep plants healthy and well-shaped.

How to Order Plants from Eureka Farms?

We run a full-scale nursery with a wide range of inventory including landscaping trees, fruit trees, palm trees, and the largest variety of houseplants. Looking to boost your curb appeal or elevate your porch to the most luxurious level? Let Eureka Farms help you with topiary trees and hedges, from A to Z. You can count on us to pack each shipment from coast to coast with the utmost care, and your plants will arrive to you as fresh as possible. Whether you are looking for inspiration on how to keep the air in your home clean, get the mood up, or brighten up your office with a natural appeal, this list of easy-to-care-for indoor plants is all that you will need. Happy Planting!