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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What to do with the spent flower spike of foxgloves (digitalis)?

I've had a glorious display of foxgloves in my garden this year, but now pretty much all of the flowers have wilted and fallen. I don't particularly want to collect seed from the plants, but what should I do with the remaining flower spikes /…
Mal Ross
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Should I prune my Autumn-fruiting raspberries?

I have autumn fruiting raspberries (Autumn Bliss) which I planted in late spring. The original fruit canes have just made a very small crop, but the old canes are yellowing and beginning to wither, while new shoots have come up. I have read that…
user2530
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Can I trim this shrub into a spiral shape?

I have these 2 shrubs (circled in red) that I need to trim. I'm wondering if I can turn them into/trim it into a spiral shape (like in the 2nd photo). I'm finding it very difficult to find what kind of shrubs I have and if it's possible to do…
lsiunsuex
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Is my tree too close to my house?

I have an ornamental cherry tree approximately 30 ft tall, which is now close enough to my house that I could touch it from my window. I would like to keep it , but am concerned it will damage my property. Do I need to cule, or can I have a good cut…
Mick Ingledew
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How can I safely prune a melon vine?

I have a volunteer melon vine (it looks like cantaloupe) growing at the end of my garden area. I chose to let it grow out of curiosity. It's now producing a number of healthy looking fruits. However, it's also invading my tomato plants and my…
Flimzy
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How should I prune a weeping willow without shortening the life of the tree?

I prune a lot of neighborhood trees, but I've come to a small problem. Some people like their weeping willows high enough that they can walk underneath without brushing it. I have been doing this by hedge trimming the stems at seven feet. Now I…
J. Musser
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Should I trim off flower buds on basil?

I have several herbs in a hydrocultural system. I have recently noticed several budding flowers on some of my basil plants. Since my goal is to maximize leaf yield, should I trim them off to conserve energy? I have learned from some instructions…
Eddie Kal
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Can I prune a grape vine in near-freezing weather?

Most of the advice I have seen on when to prune grape vines in the British Isles is "early winter (late November/December)". I had planned to prune a three-year old vine, which is in an unheated greenhouse which is virtually the same air temperature…
jmk
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How do I prepare a chili plant for a second year's growth?

I have finally managed to make one of my chili plants (variety unknown) live into its second year! I've kept it indoors so far this winter. As it will be spring in a couple of months (I'm in the UK), what should I to prepare it for next year? Should…
Dan
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Can I trim my potato plants?

I have three rows of potato plants that are growing really well. I have another row of carrots in the same bed. The carrots have sprouted, but they are still small. The leaves of the potatoes in the nearby row are just starting to get next to the…
Justin Helgerson
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Should I cut back my yucca after flowering?

My Adam's needle yucca flowered for the first time this year. It does not look like it is going to grow in that area anymore, but the leaves are still green. Should I cut it back at all?
J. Musser
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How do I prune my mop-head hydrangea?

I have a five year old Annabelle Hydrangea that is getting bushy. I have lightly pruned it in the past, but I don't know really know how I am supposed to do it. It is about 4' high and 6' wide. How do I prune it to optimize the flowering?
J. Musser
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Should I prune off a branch connected to a large weak crotch on my apricot tree?

I have an apricot tree that is 4 or 5 years old. It is doing well, but one of the main branches has a weak crotch and included bark. My peach tree had the same problem, and got split in a wind storm last year. So I wanted to proactively take care…
aepound
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Tips for first Serissa Bonsai

I just brought home my first bonsai. Looking at some of the guides online I think it needs some pruning after the flowering period. It still has wire on most of the growth. Any suggestions about where to begin are appreciated! Thanks, Joe
Joe
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What should I do with a top heavy Croton?

My Croton is top heavy and I'm not sure what to do to fix it. I'm afraid that the stem will break. Should I prune it, and if so, how would I go about doing that?
Alicia
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