With the arrival of spring and summer, the shrubs and other flowering plants in your garden will bloom. But do you know which shrubs to prune and when is it advisable to do so? Discover these basic tips with the participation of Hervé Leglantier, Gardener in Hyères, to prune flowering plants and obtain satisfactory results in your garden.
Gardening Tip: Which Plants and Shrubs to Prune Before Spring Arrives?
Electric or manual pruning is a good way to maintain garden maintenance, especially for young plants. However, even established mature plants should undergo this treatment to allow for healthy growth in the spring.
Gardening experts recommend starting pruning the three plants that we will discover later in the article at the end of February. This is when plants are dormant and slow growing due to low temperatures. In addition, insects are generally less active, which reduces the risk of infestation. By making the cuts during the February pruning, the plants will not be exposed to infections. Eventually, these three plants will become more beautiful, lush, and full of colorful flowers when pruned at this time.
Rosebush
Roses bring beauty and color to any garden, spreading a unique fragrance. February is the ideal time to prune large-flowered roses and floribunda roses. This will allow your flowers to fully bloom in the spring and completely remove any weaker stems.
Clematis
When it comes to a perennial climber like this, pruning is light and it is advisable to be careful and clean thoroughly during the month of February.
Clematis is a particularly beautiful plant, which bears flowers with intense colors. Few people know this, but these species are divided into different groups:
- The Early Bloomers
- The one that gives a mid-season bloom.
- Late flowering
For the first two, it is best to wait until spring, while the third requires pruning in February.
Buddleia
The Buddha – Source: spm
February is undoubtedly the best time to prune Buddleia. A shrub that offers elongated flowers of intense purple color with a delicate fragrance.
Pruning is used to stimulate the growth of new shoots, taking care to cut only what is necessary. The plant that grows outdoors can be pruned a lot, unlike others that should always have room to grow in spring. In any case, always go to a professional before pruning the plants.
How to prune your plants in February?
- Use sharp pruning tools (scissors, saws, etc.).
- The selected area should have a slight slope to the opposite side of the bud to prevent rainwater from being retained or directed towards the bud and damaging it.
- Avoid hard pruning.
Learning how and when to prune the plants in our garden takes time because it depends on the type of plants and trees we have planted: ornamental shrubs, fruit trees, horticultural plants, aromatic plants, etc. Each plant has its very specific requirements.
When is pruning shrubs and plants recommended?
Pruning a plant – Source: spm
Pruning at the right time greatly improves the appearance of the garden and gives the plants a healthier appearance. Plants reward your hard work with new flowers after a well-done pruning. Although most plants survive without pruning, they live longer, are healthier, and look better if pruned regularly.
The ideal period for pruning depends on the type of plant and the period of vegetative recreation. In general, it is recommended to prune in winter or at the end of winter, after heavy frosts, so as not to damage the plants.
What are the activities to do in your garden in February?
Preparing the Ground
You can start preparing all the soil from the end of February. It is essential that the soils are allowed to sit for two weeks before the first planting, so preparation should begin as soon as the weather is warmer. With rising temperatures, the frost in the soil disappears and the compost can be buried.
Plant bulbs
If you missed the time to plant spring flower bulbs in the fall, you still have a chance! At the end of winter, flower bulbs can still be planted on frost-free days.
Trimming trees and shrubs
Pruning trees and shrubs at the end of winter, especially fruit trees, promotes their regeneration and stimulates the formation of flowers. By removing poor growth and preserving the shape of the crown, plants can enter a vigorous summer growth phase.