GARDENING in springtime is all about deadlines; countless tasks that need to be carried out before times runs out. Transplanting perennials; planting bareroot trees and shrubs; sowing early potatoes; trimming hedges; starting off the tomatoes; cleaning the pond – all these chores and more need to be completed roughly before the spring equinox or you run the risk of damaging flora or disturbing fauna. Nature waits for nobody.
And then there’s pruning, that great esoteric ritual that every year separates proper gardeners from people who merely have gardens. Know when and how to use a pair of secateurs correctly and you can easily pass yourself of as a horticultural expert.
The purpose of pruning varies, from purging old or diseased wood to encouraging fresh growth with flowers, foliage or fruit.
The two things to remember about pruning is not to be intimidated by it and to realise that most trees and shrubs will not only tolerate a good pruning but will actually thrive once their limbs have been cut back.
But this advice does not apply universally. While it’s fair to say the majority of trees and shrubs respond best to a spring prune, there are many exceptions.
Take clematis, for example, where the optimum pruning time is dictated by when the plant flowers (or into what group of three it falls). For instance, the common Clematis montana (Group one) flowers in late spring-early summer and is best pruned just after the blooms fade. This enables the plant to achieve maximum growth over the remainder of the growing season and it is on this new growth that next year’s flowers will appear. But the equally popular Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ (Group three) is pruned in spring before flowering in early summer on this year's growth.
If an ornamental cherry tree is pruned in spring you are not only denied the pleasure of its blossom but it bleeds sap excessively, which is never good.
Plants suitable for spring pruning include the Buddleja, hardy fuchsia and dogwood. Avoid pruning evergreens in autumn and winter as this could damage the plant, by upsetting the ‘root to shoot ratio’ when growth slows. Best give them any attention needed in early spring just before growth begins. Meanwhile, shrubs that benefit from a summer prune include forsythia, weigela, lilac and flowering quince.
The necessary tools for the job should be sharp and clean to minimise the chances of harming your subject. Secateurs, loppers and a pruning saw should be adequate for most pruning tasks that don’t require a professional. You’ll also need a good thick pair of gardening gloves that will provide you with added resolve and protect you from thorns.
Making the cut in the correct manner is also very important, as it will dictate the direction of future growth. Always cut just above a bud – but not too close – sloping away from it.
When pruning fruit bushes, such as gooseberries and blackcurrants, the idea is maximise ventilation and keep the centre of the bush generally free of growth. This is achieved by selecting outward-facing buds to create a goblet shape.
Remember that having your limbs cut off can be traumatic, so to avoid stress on the plant give a well balanced feed and keep well watered in the weeks afterwards.
