We are all familiar with the need to prune hedges and decoratively shaped trees and shrubs to maintain the perfect shape, but do you know it is also important to prune plants to keep them healthy?
A few reasons why we prune:
SHAPE:
By pruning, you will ultimately alter the shape of the plant, especially if you prune larger branches key to the structure of the plant. Each cut will change the shape, growth and ability to grow leaves and smaller branches.
ALLOWING BETTER GROWTH:
In particularly older and established gardens, larger trees can struggle to grow due to dead, broken or damaged branches. Cutting away the old will allow fresh leaves and branches with the reduced density as well as allowing some sunlight on forgotten areas of the trees. It might at first seem risky and detrimental to a green garden, but done in the right season, your garden will bloom again soon.
AVOIDING DAMAGE:
This is true for hedges and decorative plants, but is equally effective for trimming open a path, or above an awning or clearing in front of a window or over a gutter and roof.
Maintaining well cared for plants, will also mean a well cared for home. Improper weight distribution of branches can lead to disaster. Ignoring maintenance will potentially end up costing you more in damage repair as well as removal of the plant. It is worth your while to get a professional team in once a year to assess and do larger maintenance on your behalf.
Practicing the correct techniques and using the right tools, you can ensure the ultimate health of the plants in your garden. It is important to know that each region will have the perfect time to prune, so check with your local nursery or garden service to ensure you do it correctly.
Scroll through the photos of past projects done by Gin Wingfield Designs to see examples of decorative pruning and work in progress on some maintenance pruning on larger trees.
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