Pruning conifersis necessary for a nice habit and he althy plant growth. However, not all conifers are good at pruning. The correctterm for pruning conifers is also very importantA slightly different procedure is performedtrimming coniferous trees and shrubsgrowing freely, and differentlytrimming a hedge with conifersLearn all the secretshow and when to prune conifers , thanks to which the conifers in your garden will be nice and he althy!
Trimming conifers
When to trim conifers?
Basically there is no conifer that cannot be pruned. The fact is, however, that some coniferous plants tolerate this procedure better than others. In some cases, ifpruning of conifersis not done at the proper stage of development, it will do more harm than good.
The basicterm for pruning conifersis the spring period, mainly May and April. During this pruning, cut out shoots damaged by frost and prune the branches to form them. Regularpruning of conifers , even several times a year, is essential for hedges and so-called artificial forms such as balls, pyramids, or animal figures based on topiary.
Note!Tools for trimming conifers should be of good quality, sharpened and always cleaned with liquid disinfectant. This is especially important when pruning plants showing symptoms of disease.Disinfecting cutting tools reduces the risk of disease transmission to other plants.
Trimming a conifer hedge
Trim the formed conifer hedge in the spring before the beginning of vegetation or in August after the end of growth. The firstpruning of hedge conifersis done in the year of planting. After planting, align the walls of the hedge. In the following years, we remove 20-30% of the length of the annual increments. If we are dealing with a hedge made of young conifers, cut it twice - in spring and in late summer. Older hedges, if kept correctly, are cut only once - in late summer.
Remember!Never trim a conifer hedge in late autumn as cuts must have time to heal before winter.
Pruning coniferous shrubs
Coniferous shrubs that tolerate pruning well include: thuja, cypress trees, junipers and yews. For someconifers, pruningis even necessary to keep their habit or fully reveal their decorative features.
In early springprune creeping conifersWhen you notice viable shoots on them, you should prune them. In this way, we will improve the density of the plant and prevent its excessive growth.A coniferous shrub that tolerates pruning well is mountain pine (mountain pine). All growths from the last 2-3 years can be removed from mountain pine bushes without affecting the growth and appearance of the plants.
Good to know!Variationcannabis 'Gentsch white' loses its mottled stains over time when it is not trimmed regularly. The pea cypress 'Squarrosa intermedia' is pruned annually to form a dense shrub resembling a silvery-blue pillow, and when left uncut, it becomes a loose shrub.
Pruning conifers
Spruce and fir trees are conifers, which tolerate pruning well, as well as exotic species such as Chinese Metasequoia. Usually it is not necessary to cut firs, unless it is necessary to cut withered, frozen or sick shoots.
Pruning conifersmainly refers to trimming a vertex or deleting one of the vertices. Conifers usually have one main axis, but sometimes trees have two apical shoots. Then it is worth removing the weaker apical shoot. The best term forfor pruning conifersis spring. After trimming the top of the tree, additional side branches should be trimmed, narrowing the tree upwards. In the following years, the side branches should be trimmed until the tree has a nice shape.
The pines are considered the most difficult to cut and form. In the case of theseconifers, pruningshould be carried out in a strictly defined phase, the so-called candles. This phase comes when shoots have already burst from the buds and the needles begin to emerge from the sheaths. It falls in July. The intensity of the cut is regulated by the length of the candle&39;s trim. The more we trim the conifer, the stronger the shortening of the shoots will be. If, on the other hand, we have a slow-growing pine variety in the garden, we prune the young growths in spring, shaping it into a more compact specimen."
How to become confident in pruning plants?
If you are unsure how to cut or simply afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School" will help you. Thanks to it, you will gain confidence in pruning plants and learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
