Plants are usually in good shape when they are bought and planted. But what is to be done to ensure that this remains so and growth does not get out of control?
Some plants depend on our support and need to be cared for so that they remain beautiful in the gardens over the long term. Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong when pruning plants, which causes lasting damage to the plant. And a patent solution for the right cut is also not known. It is therefore important to think carefully about how best to cut the plant. We differentiate between the life forms of the plants and give tips for the right cut.
Pruning plants correctly - depending on the life form
- Pruning herbaceous perennials
Perennials are defined as herbaceous, i.e. not with woody plant parts, and can survive for several years. However, the above-ground parts of the plant die off every year towards winter. This is of course not pretty and it makes sense to cut off the brown weed when winterizing the garden. But the lifeless parts of the plant can warm the perennial and protect it from frosty temperatures. In addition, the cutting points from the cut in autumn could serve as an entry point for frost and thus provoke frost damage or even complete frost failure. Thus, the best time to prune perennial herbaceous plants is early spring.
- Pruning Grass
Even ornamental grasses turn brown in autumn and appear lifeless. But even they shouldn't give way in autumn. On the one hand, even in their hibernation state, they still have an ornamental value in the otherwise bare, wintry garden. On the other hand, the frosty temperatures also decide when to cut back. Interfaces make it easier for the frost to penetrate the plant and cause damage there. In any case, grasses should be cut back in spring so that they can sprout again as well and unhindered as possiblecan.
- Pruning subshrubs
The life form of the subshrubs plays a central role in your own garden. Many herbs such as lavender, rosemary or sage should be included. These representatives are particularly prone to unsightly growth if they are not cut regularly. The shoots are long and sparsely branched, increasingly lignified in the lower part and no longer have any leaves there - and the abundance of flowers usually decreases. An eye-catcher in the garden looks different. Before each new shoot of the subshrubs in early spring, they should therefore be cut back by one third to two thirds, depending on the degree of woodiness. However, it is important not to cut back into the woody part. In this case, it would no longer be possible for the subshrub to sprout again, or at least it would be significantly more difficult.
- Pruning Shrubs
Shrubs also need pruning to stay in shape. For the right cut you should know if and when the shrub will bloom. Members of this life form that flower in spring can be pruned in summer without risk or loss. In the case of shrubs that do not flower until summer, wait at least until autumn, preferably early spring, just before new shoots start to sprout with this care measure.
- Pruning fruit trees and other shrubs
Even the largest representatives in the garden, the trees, need to be trimmed and kept in shape. Depending on what the desired shape of the tree looks like, the cuts must of course also be made accordingly. On the one hand, a so-called summer cut can be made. Especially with fruit trees, however, it should also be clear that part of the harvest must be lost as a result. However, trees can also be brought into shape in winter or shortly before they sprout.
The perfect pruning is therefore to adapt to the life form of the plant. In general, these shaping care measures should be carried out on dry but not too hot days. High humidity or even rain favors that fungi over theCuts can penetrate and become dangerous to the plant.
The following products have proven themselves in our garden:
- Gardena pruning shears: pruning shears with ground, non-stick coated blades and a lower blade made of stainless steel as well as ergonomically shaped handles.
- Gardena hedge trimmer: Hedge trimmer with robust, durable blades and branch cutter for thicker individual branches.
- Gardena telescopic arm scissors: Practical secateurs for effortlessly cutting tall trees and dense bushes from the ground.
Gardena Secateurs B/S-XL€32.99 €21.99Details →
Gardena Hedge Trimmer CLASSIC 540€31.90Details →- 31%
Gardena telescope StarCut 410 plus€119.99 €82.62Details →
Special thanks to the photographers: Swallowtail Garden Seeds, liz west, John Tann,Wanderbored, born1945, Mauroguanandi, Amaya & Laurent, Anna, Maja Dumat, Garden Grrrl, gardener41, Leonora (Ellie) Enking, yves Tennevin and Jenn Wurzbacher.