Time for Pruning!!!!

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Pruning is an essential gardening activity that should be performed on a regular basis in order for the plants to grow and bloom. However, it is a task that no one can give precise instructions but only basic advice. As we all know pruning needs ‘brilliant eye, good hand and strong heart”. Pruning also needs observation in order to identify the clones or seedlings to be pruned and it also needs skill to avoid injury to the plant.

It is therefore an opportunity to try and prune your plants for the first time. Experience gained through practice. And indeed, it will help you understand the needs of your plants.

Categories of pruning

Depending on the purpose, pruning can be divided into three major categories:

  1. Educational Pruning: the pruning of education aimed to control a plant growing in the early years, in order to obtain the desired shape.
  2. Fruiting Pruning: aimed to control the quantity and quality of production.
  3. Pruning for renewal: seek the removal of old parts of the plant

 

Depending on the period of time, pruning is divided into:

  • Winter pruning where plants are in slumber.
  • Summer pruning where the plants are not in slumber..

However the summer pruning, correct or supplement the winter pruning and maintain a balance between vegetation and production.

When it is time for pruning??

  • Pruning is usually done in the winter because the plant functions are minimal.
  • However some species of plants have different pruning needs. Plants that bloom in the mid of winter are not pruned in winter, but only when the blooming has finished. Others plants such as angelica need renewal pruning every two or three years.
  • Deciduous plants are pruned during the winter, during slumber.
  • Evergreen plants can be pruned every season depending on the weather conditions. flowering, etc.

Why it is necessary for pruning?

  • Configure and maintain the shape of plants.
  • Check the size and height of plants.
  • Directing the climbing plants to the surface we want to cover.
  • For better ventilation and illumination.
  • Remove dried branches and shoots.

Generally speaking pruning is necessary for the better life of plants. Pruning helps the renewal and growth of plants and we maintain to balance the two competing functions of the plant; vegetation and flowering. The aim of pruning is to assist a plant with lush foliage and vegetation, but intense flowering.

How do I prune right?

  • Always use good pruning shears. Avoid cutting the branches with your hands because you can hurt the plant.
  • Remove stems that are healthy if necessary, but also stems with buds for a more intense blooming.
  • The cutting points must be sleek and angled in order to reduce the chance of infection.
  • Prune above the coming new shoot or flower.
  • Cut diagonally in the opposite direction that the new shoot comes and cut branches from the base.
  • Remove branches that are damaged or dried.

How you can prune the following plants:
Roses:

Most of them are pruned during the winter before the vegetation. Prune also the ones that have not yet shed all their leaves. Cut the stem above the point of the new stem and remove the leaves that may have left. The varieties of roses that bloom only once a year, prune them immediately after blooming.

Conifers:

The best time to prune coniferous trees is winter time or early spring. Prune the dried or diseased stems. Also prune in order to vent the inside of the plant and cut off the top branches in order to achieve a rich lush.

Fruit trees:

Prune the fruit trees to achieve a better and richer fruit production. Prune before blooming.

 

Things to Remember!!!

  • Do not prune when there is a heavy rain or it is very windy.
  • Do not prune during the cold days of winter or in the summer when it is very hot.
  • If it is very windy, be sure to water your plant the next few days.
  • If you prune an old plant it is better after pruning to fertilize it, in order to help it pull out new shoots.
  • There is a possibility for the plant after pruning to face problems because of the cold. Cut all the damaged branches in order to protect the rest.
  • If you remove too much foliage, you should protect the plant from the sun and heat, because there is danger from internal burns.

 

 

 

 

Useful guide for planting

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An important factor for the health and growth of our plants is to correctly re-pot. Sometimes our plants get sick and die because we re-pot them more often than needed, or because we do not transplant them the correct way.

When we observe a withered leaf in the plant, we believe that it’s time to transplant. But we must not forget that a transplanting for a weak plant is no good, because the roots are weak and the plant will not be able to grow into an unknown soil. It is of course times when a plant loses a little color, that it needs re-potting. But how can we be sure when a plant needs transplanting? First, you must make sure that the discoloration of the plant is not due to various pests. Secondly, you should check the roots of the plant. If the roots of the plant have reached the bottom of the pot, then you must proceed with the transplanting. If the roots can not be seen, the plant does not need transplanting.

Very often the question why we should not transplant the little plants that are healthy arises. The answer lies in the fact that the ratio of small plant to large pot is not very good because the plant may not develop properly. What rules should be followed regarding the proportion of the pot and plant? In the nurseries, the young shoots are placed in pots with a diameter of about 9 m. When the plants grow normally, which takes approximately one year; we transplant the plants to pots with a diameter of about 12 m. After one more year we transplant in pots with a diameter of about 17 m. We do transplant the plants with big leaves into pots with a diameter of 25 cm.

At this point, we must mention that the proper development of a plant is not depending on the transplantation only, but also depend on the proper care. Below you will read some tips to help you keep a plant in a healthy condition:

  • Stir the soil surface at a depth of 2.05 – 5 cm with a sharp tool. Then remove and replace the soil with fresh soil or a mixture of soils.
  • During the planting do place in the bottom of the pot brick pieces, so the excess water can leave easy.
  • When transplanting a plant, we must be careful to plant our plants at the same depth as before. For this reason, we put as much soils as needed so that the plants will be at the same height as before. Then, holding the plant with one, press the soil well with your other hand to ensure that the plant is in the right place. Then, water the plant thoroughly and then do not water it for ten days.
  • We must be careful concerning the frequency and quantity of water we give to the plant for a few weeks. We should give a little water until the plant is used to the new soil
  • Do not fertilize the plant for three to six months after each transplantation. This of course depends on the plant and its development.
  • Finally, when we transplant the plant, the soil should be moist but not too wet and the ideal time for transplanting plants are in the end of spring or early summer.