Pruning tools and tips from Garden4less

Why is annual pruning of your plants essential?

A healthy plant is usually bushy, compact and free from dead or diseased wood. Many varieties that live for more than one season (perennials), including trees, shrubs and climbers will grow straggly if neglected. Other species die back during the winter and re-emerge in spring. In this case, remnants of last years' growth can impede the formation of new shoots. Strong, vigorous specimens are less susceptible to disease making pruning an essential part of garden maintenance.

Garden Pruning Tools

If you only purchase one tool for pruning, it should be a pair of secateurs. These are indispensable for cutting soft growth and small woody stems. Since you will need these close to hand, a secateurs holster makes a safe alternative to storing in a pocket. There are a number of Garden Tools for effective and easy pruning. For small trees and shrubs, loppers are ideal. The extra length in the handle allows you to access hard-to-reach areas. To achieve a clean cut, larger branches will require the use of a pruning saw. Use the right tool for the job – this will provide the best results and prolong the life of your equipment. Garden4less have a good stock of gardening supplies for sale through their website and have an entire category dedicated to pruning tools.

Which plants to trim back

Take a walk round your plot during the growing season. Gaps in the foliage, areas of dead wood and diseased areas will give you an idea of where you need to prune.

Pruning Buddleja – This is an attractive shrub which is found in many gardens. It does, however, tend to become overgrown and blowsy if neglected. Firstly, you need to establish whether you have a variety that flowers upon old or new wood. If the former, you will need to be more careful in your pruning to ensure flowers next year. Most buddlejas benefit from hard annual pruning to remove leggy, congested branches. When all risk of frost has passed, cut back last year's shoots down to two buds from the base.

Pruning Clematis – A common climber in urban gardens, this variety can become extremely leggy if left untended. After flowering, use secateurs to remove dead stems and tangled branches. During the growing season, shoots can be pinched out to encourage more horizontal growth - useful if the plant is becoming too tall.

Trimming Conifers – This species is often used as tall hedging or to provide architectural interest. As they do not react well to pruning, it best avoided unless completely necessary. However, unsightly dead patches can be removed, and the subsequent hole disguised with surrounding foliage. Avoid exposing the central, darker wood as it is unlikely to give rise to new shoots.

Cutting back Berberis – Grown for its attractive berries, this species can become particularly dense. As such, it benefits from judicious thinning. If autumnal fruits are your aim, avoid cutting back immediately after flowering and trim instead in early winter.

Pruning Camellia – This evergreen shrub produces rose-like flowers as winter draws to a close. Young plants benefit from the pruning of new, leggy shoots, whilst established varieties will prove more compact when the vigorous main stem is shortened.

Euphorbia – After blooms have faded, cut down flowering stems to the base of the plant. Always wear gloves when handling euphorbia, as the sap is a skin irritant and can cause burns.