I enjoy ignoring what the RHS says, and regularly seeing superb results! Prune/trim when you want. Plants are about structure and shape as well as some flowers a few weeks a year.
I think the key is to know the pros and cons, therefore why the 'right' time is considered right. If the con is that you'll lose next year's flowers you can still decide to prune in that knowledge. If the con is that pruning at the wrong time leaves the plant extra vulnerable to disease / frost, then the decision might be different. The sad thing is when people wonder why their x never flowers, but they've been pruning it at the 'wrong' time every year.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
A lot of the reasoning behind pruning deciduous shrubs when dormant seems to be that the plants resources are in the roots. What would be the consequences then of both 'general' pruning and 'rejuvenation' pruning of deciduous shrubs whilst not dormant (therefore removing resources)?
A lot of the reasoning behind pruning deciduous shrubs when dormant seems to be that the plants resources are in the roots. What would be the consequences then of both 'general' pruning and 'rejuvenation' pruning of deciduous shrubs whilst not dormant (therefore removing resources)?
Not much. I've done it literally hundreds of times.
I prune (or hack back to put it more accurately!) when I've got the time or see the need. Mostly I do try to follow accepted guidance though. For example, I have a Continus 'Grace'. It's late to leaf up and should be pruned as soon as you see new shoots, which I generally do, but if the weather is foul, I don't. It grows so big and fast that I prune long shoots off throughout the summer as they overhang the path. It doesn't seem to mind.
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Prune/trim when you want. Plants are about structure and shape as well as some flowers a few weeks a year.
A lot of the reasoning behind pruning deciduous shrubs when dormant seems to be that the plants resources are in the roots. What would be the consequences then of both 'general' pruning and 'rejuvenation' pruning of deciduous shrubs whilst not dormant (therefore removing resources)?