Our Guide to Pruning and Cutting Back Shrubs Maintaining a tidy garden full of healthy shrubs all year round is more than just knowing which shrubs to buy. Pruning and cutting back at the correct time, knowing why you should and how to do it correctly is key. After all, pruning the wrong way can decrease the number of blooms you get, make your shrubs more susceptible to disease and leave you with leggy and bare shrubs. That’s why at Mowshop, we have put together this simple guide on pruning and cutting back your shrubs so that you’ll achieve better results next time you tidy up your bushes. Pruning Vs Cutting Back Shrubs When reading about pruning and cutting back, you’ll see that the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably. However, they do mean different things: Pruning – When you prune your shrubs you will be taking time to remove dead or unhealthy stems. You will also prune your shrubs to allow better air flow through the shrub, helping to stimulate new and better growth. Cutting Back – Used to reduce size, reshape, or rejuvenate an overgrown shrub. When is the Best Time to Prune Or Cut Back Shrubs? Just like with most gardening questions, the best time to prune or cut back your shrubs will depend on the type of shrub you’re trying to tidy up. So let’s take a look: Deciduous Shrubs – Best to be cut back in late winter to early spring. Ideally you should give your shrubs a good cut back before the new growth starts to avoid cutting off buds. Evergreen Shrubs – These are best pruned during early spring, once the danger of frosting has passed. Tools Needed To Prune Your Shrubs Before you go out and start pruning, you’ll want to make sure you’re equipped with: Pruning shears – Perfect for cutting smaller stems. Long-handled loppers – Best for cutting thicker stems that can’t be cut with your shears. Hand saw – Better for cutting thicker branches. Gloves and eye protection – Always better to be safe than sorry! One thing you will never find on our list is dull tools. Dull blades won’t only make it difficult, but they’ll also make clean cuts near enough impossible. This will cause your shrubs to take longer to heal and be more prone to infections. Quick Pruning Guide Now you know when to start pruning your shrubs and the tools you need, let’s get stuck into how to prune: 1. Remove Dead, Damaged or Diseased Wood You should start by removing any stems that are weak and can drain the energy from your shrub. Not only will these get in the way when pruning, but they can also cause damage to your healthy stems. Look for dead branches that have broken off or stems that rub together, and cut these back to where you can see healthy, green stems. 2. Shape The shrub For Good Structure Once you have removed any stems that you don’t want, you can start to thin out the shrub. Take a look at where the stems are crowded in the centre of the shrub and remove some of the shoots to allow for better airflow. You should always maintain the natural shape of your plant. 3. Refresh Old Shrubs Lastly, if you find that your shrub has become too woody or you have never cut the shrub back before, you may want to consider hard pruning your shrub. Cut back up to one-third of a shrub’s oldest stems. Although this may seem like a lot, most shrubs will respond very well to hard pruning. Hydrangea Pruning Made Easy Hydrangeas are among Britain’s most cherished shrubs, but the way you prune them depends on the variety. One of the most popular types is Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, known for its big, white blooms. Unlike bigleaf or lacecap hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, ‘Annabelle’ blooms on new wood, meaning that pruning just before new growth encourages abundant flowering and healthier stems. The best time to prune hydrangeas ‘Annabelle’ is in late winter to very early spring. Pruning Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ Cutting stems right back down to base height (usually about 30-45cm / 12-18″ from the ground) will encourage new shoots to grow from the base of the plant, allowing the large flower heads to be more supported. You can also remove any weak stems and give the remaining stems a tidy up to keep the desired shape. If you like the look of hydrangea in winter you can leave a few of the older stems in place over winter for some winter interest and remove these in the spring before cutting back the rest of the plant. Pruning Mistakes To Avoid Ok, so you think you know your stuff when it comes to pruning. But even the most seasoned gardeners can make mistakes. So, let’s go over a few things that you should avoid when pruning your shrubs: Cutting at the wrong time of year Using blunt gardening tools Cutting too much at once, remember you can always go back and prune more off later. Conclusion No matter what you are cutting back or pruning, you want your plants to look their best. By knowing what type of shrub you want to prune, when the best time to prune them is and what tools to use you’ll be on path to pruning perfection. For all your gardening tool needs, take a look at Mowshop. We offer a wide range of tools to help prune like a professional!
