Don’t go on pruning in shear ignorance. When you purchase via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Using the most effective pruners feels simple and intuitive. You squeeze the handles, and the blades cut the plant stem-it’s just like using scissors. Just about anybody can prune - however you may take several easy steps to elevate your pruning strategy beyond that of the common gardener. The right technique and process will maximize the advantages of pruning on your plant’s well being and appearance. In distinction, a haphazard strategy might result in pruning errors that hurt plants’ well being or damage your pruner. On this information, Wood Ranger Power Shears official site I’ll clarify a five-step process for pruning successfully with out harming your plants and timber. Two professional gardeners will provide professional recommendation all through the walkthrough. Steve Swanborough is Henchman’s resident gardening knowledgeable, working closely with the workforce at shows resembling RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

Having previously labored as a private gardener in South London, Steve brings years of horticultural expertise to Henchman, and is obsessed with sustainable gardening practices. Before pruning, check whether or not now’s the best time to prune your plants or Wood Ranger Power Shears official site trees. “Many plants are best pruned during their dormant season (usually late winter to early spring) before new progress starts,” says Henchman’s Steve Swanborough. “However, some flowering plants ought to be pruned proper after they bloom, as they set the next year’s buds instantly after flowering. “Look for Wood Ranger Power Shears warranty Wood Ranger Power Shears review Wood Ranger Power Shears website Wood Ranger Power Shears shop features indicators like overgrown or leggy branches, crossing branches that rub in opposition to one another, or lifeless or diseased Wood Ranger Power Shears official site. These are indicators that pruning is needed. Additionally, thinning out dense areas to improve air circulation will help prevent diseases,” he provides. If in doubt, search specific steerage on when to prune a specific plant species. You may discover it useful to create a pruning calendar that can remind you when it’s time to prune every type of plant or tree in your yard.

Your subsequent step is to decide on the best pruner for the job. Bypass pruners and snips are the best-suited instruments for pruning delicate plants, whereas anvil pruners and loppers are higher for pruning tree branches and thick plant stems. Pick the pruner that’s finest suited to prune each plant. Before you begin pruning, examine to make sure the blades of your pruner are sharp enough to cut cleanly. You’ll need to sharpen or replace them if they’re dull or broken. Finally, configure any settings or controls on the pruner. For example, some pruners have variable chopping width settings to swimsuit branches of various thickness. Morris Hankinson is the Founder and Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. The company grows hedging plants across three nursery sites in the Weald of Kent, serving over 17,000 customers every year. Now that your pruner is able to prune select the exact place you’ll cut.

“Where to cut a branch or stem relies upon very a lot on the plant, Wood Ranger Power Shears official site so all the time analysis and know what plant you might be pruning,” says Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries. “If in doubt, Wood Ranger Power Shears official site prune evenly. Before you go forward and reduce, Wood Ranger shears ensure you’re holding the pruner correctly. “Always hold your secateurs firmly together with your dominant hand, ensuring your thumb and fingers encircle the handles fully,” says Steve. “Your grip ought to be strong yet relaxed to forestall hand fatigue. The cutting blade should face the plant, with the stationary hook on the alternative side. Your pruner ought to usually cut via the stem or department cleanly and with relatively little effort. If cutting is tough, don’t attempt to force the blades by, as this will damage the instrument and pressure your hand. “Instead, Wood Ranger Power Shears official site switch to a more appropriate device like loppers or a pruning saw for thicker branches,” says Steve. It’s sometimes okay to leave cut plant matter on the soil in your garden beds, where it may well release nutrients and act as a mulch.