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Pruning: hard or light?
Spring is traditionally the time for pruning, though some plants are only pruned in Autumn, after flowering.
So what do these terms really mean?
Here, for what they are worth, are my definitions.
1. Very hard, radical. Cut the plant back close to the ground. 95% ie. semi-hardy Fuchsia. Usually only very early season, February.
2. Hard. Cut the plant back to within half a meter of the ground ie. Buddleia. 80%. Early.
3. Moderate. Cut the plant back by about 50%. Leave some of the leaf-bearing stems. Mid-Spring.
4. Light. About 20%. Any time that does not prejudice flowering.
There are of course many exceptions. Some plants are best not pruned at at all unless they are shading out others ie Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Camellias. Roses and Clematis are also a special case, as they depend which particular type they are.
Good luck to you all !
So what do these terms really mean?
Here, for what they are worth, are my definitions.
1. Very hard, radical. Cut the plant back close to the ground. 95% ie. semi-hardy Fuchsia. Usually only very early season, February.
2. Hard. Cut the plant back to within half a meter of the ground ie. Buddleia. 80%. Early.
3. Moderate. Cut the plant back by about 50%. Leave some of the leaf-bearing stems. Mid-Spring.
4. Light. About 20%. Any time that does not prejudice flowering.
There are of course many exceptions. Some plants are best not pruned at at all unless they are shading out others ie Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Camellias. Roses and Clematis are also a special case, as they depend which particular type they are.
Good luck to you all !
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Clematis.: Spring flowering 4. Early summer: 3. Late summer until Autumn : 1 or 2