Pruning is an essential gardening skill. When you prune correctly, you encourage healthy growth and flowering (in the case of flowering plants), as well as good looks. For most shrubs and trees, it helps to prune at the right time. Some are best pruned in winter; some right after flowering.
Whether you are a beginner or just need a refresher, below you’ll find links to pruning articles and videos on the following topics:
Pruning tools | Basic pruning techniques | Pruning shrubs and vines | Pruning trees | Pruning roses |
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The ultimate guide to pruning strategies and techniques In Guide to Pruning, FG Editors explain how to prune hundreds of plants. Whether you are new to gardening or a veteran of many seasons, you’ll refer to this guide again and again. Buy the book… |
Pruning tools |
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Video: A Survey of Pruning Tools Whatever you are pruning, the right tool makes all the difference. In this video, horticulturist Lee Reich examines an array of pruning implements. You’ll learn what the tools do, and what to consider when shopping for a new hand pruner, lopper, saw, pole pruner, or hedge shears. Watch the video… |
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Video: How to Sharpen Pruners It’s easier to prune with a sharp blade than a dull one, and a cleaner cut heals faster and more efficiently than one made with a dull blade. Lee Reich shows you how to sharpen a hand pruner. Watch the video… |
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Sharpening Pruners Arborist Melissa Levangie explains how to clean your pruners, then sharpen them using diamond files. Read more… |
Basic pruning techniques
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Video: Where to Cut Where you make your pruning cuts makes a difference in how quickly they heal. In this video, Lee Reich, author of The Guide to Pruning Book, demonstrates best practices. Watch the video… |
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Maintenance Pruning Regular pruning enhances the look and health of your garden. Get an overview on the benefits of maintenance pruning and a general idea of when to prune early- and late-flowering shrubs. Read more… |
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Video: Pinching Stem Tips Pinching stem tips is a form of pruning that can make plants look neat, as well as encourage branching and bushier growth. This video will show you how the technique. Watch the video… |
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Video: Pinching Coleus Stems Coleus and many other annuals and tender perennials tend to get leggy, but you can promote dense growth by pinching back the stems. Associate editor Michelle Gervais shows you what to do. Watch the video… |
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Video: Root Pruning Container Plants If your container plant is rootbound, or just growing a little too vigorously for your liking, root pruning can help. |
Pruning shrubs and vines
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Trimming a Formal Hedge A straight edge is the hallmark of a formally trimmed hedge, and in this article, John Sosnowski, horticulturist at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, explains how he achieves this look using stakes and string as a guide. He also offers a list of shrubs that are suitable candidates for formal hedges. Read more… Watch the video… |
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Pruning Subshrubs Subshrubs such as lavender, sage, thyme, and wormwood require special pruning techniques to keep them looking good. Timing is critical for ensuring healthy, dense growth. Read more… |
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How to Prune Cane-Growing Shrubs Cane-growing shrubs are shrubs that grow from multiple canes, not a single trunk. Examples are forsythia, viburnum, lilac, and spirea, among many others. Maintenance pruning keeps them shapely, but even for overgrown shrubs there’s a remedy. Read more… |
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Pruning Clematis Your clematis may be a spring bloomer, repeat bloomer, or late-season bloomer. Each type calls for a different pruning approach, and in this article, pruning guru Lee Reich explains what to do. Read more… |
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Pruning Crape Myrtles Many people plant crape myrtles for their vibrant summer color, few people prune them correctly. Find out how it should be done. Read more… |
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Pruning Hollies Learn when and how to prune your hollies, whether you have deciduous, rounded, intermediate, or pyramidal plants. Read more… |
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Pruning Hydrangeas First, determine if your hydrangea blooms on old wood (blooms appear in early summer and fade) or on new wood (blooms appear later and continue until frost). Then prune accordingly. Read more…. Watch a video… |
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Pruning Lilacs Whether it’s an ancient shrub or a vigorous young plant, all lilacs can benefit from some well-placed cuts. Read more… |
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Three Ways to Prune Rhododendrons Find out how to maintain, shape, or rejuvenate rhododendrons to keep them healthy and attractive. Read more… |
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Pruning and Training Wisteria Well-placed summer and winter cuts will keep this vigorous vine manageable. Read more… |
Pruning trees
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How to Prune Conifers Conifers are not as forgiving as other garden shrubs and trees, so proper pruning is critical. Bert Cregg, an associate professor in the horticulture and forestry departments at Michigan State University, explains how to prune conifers with fan-like, flat, and bunched needles in this article and in the accompanying videos, linked below. Read more… |
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Video: Pruning Conifers for Health Dead, diseased, or damaged branches should be removed when the problem arises. Watch the video… |
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Video: Pruning Arborvitae, Junipers, and Chamaecyparis Conifers with fan-like needles will not form new growth on old wood, so judicious pruning is advised. Watch the video… |
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Pruning Pines Prune pine trees when they are actively growing. Watch the video… |
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Pruning Firs, Douglas Firs, and Spruces Control height and encourage fullness by pruning during dormancy. Watch the video… |
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How to Prune an Old Apple Tree Pruning can bring an old apple tree back to health and let you reap the fruit of your labor. Find out how it should be done. Read more… |
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Pruning Japanese Maples The right cuts reveal a branch pattern that looks good with leaves or without. Read more… |
Pruning roses
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Out with the Old Canes, In with the New Removing old canes should be part of any rose maintenance program. But how do you know it’s old, how much do you take out?. Read more… |
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What Time of Year Should I Prune My Roses? Timing does matter, and here’s a real simple answer from Paul Zimmerman, our rose blogger. Read more…See also: Summer Pruning Roses in a Hot Climate Can Roses be Pruned in Fall? |
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Video: Pruning Climbing Roses With help from Paul Zimmerman, you’ll be able to prune your climbing roses with confidence. Watch the video…Related information… The One Essential Thing to Know when Pruning Climbing Roses Pruning Climbing Roses |
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Video: Pruning Shrub Roses Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune shrub roses. Watch the video…More videos on this topic… Pruning Shrub Roses that Grow New Canes from the Base Every Year Pruning Shrub Roses that Build a Structure over Time |
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Video: How to Prune Floribunda Roses Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune floribunda roses. Watch the video… |
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Video: How to Prune Hybrid Tea Roses Peter Kukielski, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, demonstrates the best way to prune hybrid tea roses. Watch the video… |
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Video Collection: Planting and Pruning Roses View videos on planting roses in containers and feeding, mulching, pruning, and preparing roses for winter. Watch the videos… |
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Dramm Bypass Pruner, Cut up to 5/8-inch in diameter, Stainless Steel Blade, Blue
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Ideal for trimming trees, bushes, and flowers, the Bypass Pruner is designed for both professional and home gardeners. It has a 5/8-inch cutting capacity and is made with corrosion-resistant stainless steel blades for precise cuts. The ergonomic handle and non-slip grip design fit comfortably in your hand. The locking mechanism allows for safe and easy storage. Available in six sharp colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and berry.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Fiskars 7.9-12ft Extendable 2-in-1 Pole Tree Trimmer & Pruner with Rotating Head and Precision-Ground Steel Saw Blade
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
IDEAL BRANCH TRIMMER: Tree pruner that extends from 7.9 to 12 feet; Lightweight aluminum pole weighing less than five pounds to help minimize fatigue; Ideal for cutting high branches, or making low cuts without bending or kneeling. MAXIMUM POWER AND PRECISION: Fiskars Tree Pruner with Low-friction coating helps to prevent gumming up with sap or debris; Chain-drive gearing mechanism that provides 3X more power; Secure double locking system ensures extended pole stays put. LONG-LASTING AND RELIABLE: Extendable tree pruner with steel blades stay sharp through heavy use and provide excellent durability for lasting value; Fiskars pruning saws for tree trimming are built to last. QUALITY GARDEN TOOLS: From tree pruners to garden shears to Tree Loppers, Fiskars garden and yard tools are equipped with smart technologies and award-winning, ergonomic features
INCLUDES: 1 Fiskars Extendable Tree Pruner with 15-Inch Double-Grind Saw (item 92406935K); Full lifetime warranty.
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Comments
Hello Ruth! You can call me a new gardener, but one that is cautios and will research rather than go crazy at the local nursery with buying plants and then not knowing what to do with the trees or where to plant and what the outcome might be in say ... five to seven years!
I am a great fan and follower of https://www.finegardening.com and have read your articles on pruning, pruners and how to maintain them. It has helped me greatly ... and I am taking the liberty on FB so that many more like me can take advantage of what you discussed.
any pruning makes how fully learning im can?
Thanks for sharing such articles on tree pruning, they have helped our young employees to learn more about pruning.
Thanks, Adam Arnold.
Love the tree pruning articles! They've been a big help getting our new crew up to speed.
All the best Adam
https://www.glasgow-tree-surgeon.co.uk/
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