Why prune your trees and shrubs?
For trees and shrubs to thrive – and to retain their shape and fit into your garden – they need to be pruned at regular intervals. Without pruning, there is a risk that your plants will grow too big and take over the entire garden. Pruning fruit trees, flowers, and shrubs is an important gardening activity that helps promote plant health, growth, and greenery.
Different types of pruning
There are many different types of pruning, each of which serves its own purposes.
Common types of pruning:
- Deadwooding/cleaning
In this type of pruning, diseased, rotted and dead branches are cut away. It can be branches that rub against each other or branches that are dead and have no leaves. This type of pruning should be done during the growing season, July-August, when you can most easily see which branches are damaged or dead.
- Maintenance pruning/thinning
Thinning involves removing individual branches and shoots that interfere with other growth. Some of the thickest and oldest branches may also be removed so that the shrub or tree has a chance to form new shoots at the base. Thinning should take place in the summer, no later than August, when the plant heals wounds better and the new shoots have time to grow before winter.
- Rejuvenation pruning
Rejuvenation pruning is typically a major procedure and involves pruning large parts of the tree or shrub so that new and healthy shoots are able to grow. This type of pruning should be done at the time of year when the plant has stored energy and nutrients in its roots and stem, which is around December-January.
- Shaping
Shaping simply means that you prune your shrubs and trees for aesthetic reasons, because they are too big, or create a desired shape.
When should you prune shrubs, hedges, and trees?
Shrubs, hedges and trees should be pruned in the period from July to September. In the Swedish horticultural industry, this period is usually abbreviated as JAS. During this time of year, growth is still fully underway and the pruning wounds heal quickly.
Spring pruning is not suitable for some plants due to bleeding, but almost all trees, shrubs, and hedges can be pruned during the JAS period. When trimming a hedge, it is a good idea to make it slightly conical, i.e. wider from the bottom upwards. This is so that the light can penetrate the whole hedge, otherwise it can easily become sparse and ugly at the bottom.
Benefits of summer pruning (June-July-August)
Pruning done in the summer can be beneficial because trees and shrubs heal their cuts much faster at this time of year. Because the plants grow well, they also have a good defence against fungal attack.
Advantages of winter pruning (December-January)
Pruning in winter can be beneficial for trees and shrubs that need heavier pruning, such as a rejuvenation pruning or thinning. During the winter, the plants have stored energy, nutrients, and starch in the trunk, and the thick branches and roots serve as food packages for next spring’s growth.
How to prune and trim your trees and shrubs
Cut diagonally to reduce the risk of mould. You can steer the direction of the branches by placing the cut just above a new bud growing in the direction you desire. Also remove branches that grow in towards the tree and branches that rub against each other. Use a pruning saw for thicker branches and loppers for the slightly thinner branches. Lastly, you can remove stem shoots and basal shoots as these draw energy from the tree. Clean your tools after use to make them last longer and to keep them in good condition for the next time you need them.
Use the right tools when pruning
A good pair of secateurs is essential for pruning, and loppers or pruning saws are necessary for thick branches. When pruning really big trees, you may also need a chainsaw. Fruit trees, such as apple and pear trees, are usually pruned in early spring. If you want to thin the crown, it is also easier in the spring before the trees have grown leaves, since the tree branches and the shape of the crown are more prominent then. Make sure your pruning tools are well-sharpened so that you get neat cuts and don’t damage the plants.
