How to Prune Your Plants for Maximum Growth
Pruning might seem intimidating, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to keep your plants healthy and looking their best. Done correctly, pruning encourages new growth, improves air circulation, prevents disease, and enhances blooms.
Understand Your Plant’s Growth Habit
Before you make any cuts, figure out whether your plant flowers on old wood (last season’s growth) or new wood (this year’s growth). Prune spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs after they bloom. Summer bloomers like butterfly bush can be pruned in late winter or early spring.
Use the Right Tools
Invest in good-quality bypass pruners, loppers for thicker stems, and a pruning saw for large branches. Keep your tools clean and sharp. This ensures clean cuts that heal quickly and reduce the risk of disease.
Know What to Remove
- Dead or damaged branches
- Branches that cross or rub
- Weak, spindly growth
- Shoots growing inward or too close together
Follow Best Practices
Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle just above a healthy outward-facing bud. This directs new growth outward instead of into the center of the plant, which helps maintain a nice shape and good airflow.
Don’t Overdo It
In most cases, you shouldn’t remove more than one-third of a plant at a time. Over-pruning can shock the plant or encourage weak, rapid regrowth.
Pruning doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a little timing and technique, you’ll help your plants thrive, bloom better, and stay strong for years to come.
