Gardening Australia – September 2019

BACK TO BASICS

46 SEPTEMBER 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA

Therearewholebookswrittenon

pruning,evenonpruningspecific

groupsofplants,butherearethe

nuts and bolts of making the cut.

1. The golden rule of pruning is to cut just
   above a node (leaf joint). That’s where the
   plant will reshoot. Don’t leave long stubs
   above the node, as they will die back. Also,
   ensure your tools are kept sharp and clean.

Aftereachpruningjob,cleanthenwipe

thebladeswithmethylatedspirits.

2.Wheneveryouseesomedeadwood,

follow it back to its closest healthy branch

and cut it off cleanly at the base.

3. Remove heavier branches, such as this
   one, by doing an undercut first, then a top
   cut further out and a final cut to tidy it up.


4. When you’re pruning roses, make clean
   cuts just above outward-facing buds, and

anglethecut away from the bud. Remove

anycrisscrossing stems and deadwood,

soyouend up with a clean, open finish.

5. If you have a tall shrub or tree and need
   to lift up the canopy to get under it, don’t
   prune off the tips of the branches. Follow
   select stems back to their leading branch
   and cut them off at the base. Removing
   this weight automatically lifts the branch,
   leaving a natural, unpruned appearance.

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skill

HOW TO PRUNE WITHOUT FEAR

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