Questions tagged [pruning]

Questions about how to best cut plant branches, vines or stems. For questions about root pruning please use the [root-pruning] tag.

"Pruning" is the act of cutting a plant's branch (typically of a or ), or (of a , , etc.).

Pruning is performed primarily to produce a better shaped plant, or to promote new growth of branches or .

In many cases, prunings (i.e. the discarded branches) can be used as to create new plants.

In rare situation even roots could be pruned to remove rotten parts, or to be able to remove a plant from an outgrown pot, etc. For questions like these use the tag.

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Practical identification of suckers on a cumquat tree

I have a small cumquat tree, and sometimes it grows new, low branches, which I suspect are suckers. But how can I be sure, how can I decide whether to prune them or not? Here is a picture of the latest suspect on my tree: It seems to me that the…
Eyal
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Can rubber gloves spread plant diseases?

I use thin rubber gloves when gardening. It's autumn here in zone 6, and I'm in the process of pruning and pulling up spent perennials and all manner of wildflowers which have been growing since the spring. I leave them until the bees, butterflies…
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How to prune 2 year old dwarf apple tree

I have recently planted this dwarf (M27 rootstock) apple tree. It said it was a 2 year old tree. Could anyone give me a good reference or video, or just detailed instructions on how to prune it this winter in order to have a good fruiting season…
usumdelphini
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What is the best method/saw to cut through tough palm tree fronds with? (30-foot Queen Palms)

I have a pole saw with a typical pruning saw blade and it works great on fresh green palm fronds (which I really shouldn't be cutting, but I don't want them touching my roof line) but the ones that I just can't manage to cut are the tougher, older…
PJS1987
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How should I prune a damaged Rhododendron?

I had a 6ft tall healthy Rhododendron that a tree decided to fall on. Now it has a big chunk taken out of the middle. Either side of the chunk is still 4ft or so but the middle goes right to the base of the plant. I'm not sure how far back to prune…
ethrbunny
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Can I allow a pine tree to share root space with a group of birch trees? If not, which should I cut down?

I have a group of birch trees, with a pine growing in the midst of them, in my front yard. My friend is telling me the pine must be cut down to save the birches. I see her concern, however: I think the entire arrangement is pretty; the pine looks…
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Am I pruning my pepper plants optimally?

I usually prune my pepper plants at the start of winter, just above the second set of nodes. I have been doing this for about eight years now and I'm interested to see if there is a better or more correct way that it should be done. Once the first…
Apoc
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How should I prune a half-dead bush of rosemary?

I have inherited a garden in a hot and arid climate with a half-dead bush of rosemary. As you can see in the photo below, a part of the plant is dead, but another is doing okay. How should I deal with the plant to ensure the live part makes it?…
Pekka
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Which plant is this? “Dead ends,” pruning, watering tips

This plant has been in my possession since last summer (I moved into a new, and otherwise empty, apartment one year ago). I wanted to keep it, but because there are no labels, I decided to water it only when the soil felt dry, which ended up being…
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When is the best time to trim cedar hedges?

When is the best time of the year to trim cedar hedges? Importantly, does choosing when to trim have any affect on encouraging growth in areas recovering from small bare spots?
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Should I remove tomato "side shoots" growing from cotyledons?

I'm growing tomatoes and in accordance with all the advice I am pinching out side shoots, which I take to be the shoots which sprout out roughly bisecting the angle between the main stem and a 'branch'. By this definition I have side shoots growing…
stovroz
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How do I prune cucumbers?

I am growing cucumbers in Central Florida. I have cucumbers that are rapidly growing and just starting to bear fruit. I read you should remove suckers or the growth branch off the main branch. How exactly do I need to prune cucumbers? Do I do this…
kelsey
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How soon can I start training or pruning a seedling?

Is there a minimum age, height, or trunk girth before I can start training or pruning a seedling / young tree? I am concerned that starting too early would be detrimental to its early growth. Specifically, I have a wax apple tree that is just 8''…
JoJo
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Pruning this grape vine during summer

I've just moved a neglected grape vine plant to a place where I want to espalier it properly. It's summer at the moment (Australia) so I know I can't do any heavy pruning at the moment. However, I want to begin tying the plant up and training it…
Carl
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When should I prune my Fig Tree?

I've been told I should prune my fig tree before the end of the Summer (Northern Hemisphere) so that it can recover before winter. I'm in Ireland. Is it late enough in the summer by July?
Toby Allen
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