Cutting techniques and tips from Turf 2 Trees Horticulture
Pruning is especially important in summer as our gardens thrive in the warmer weather.
“Gardens can get out of control in summer, so be proactive about pruning and weeding,” Michael Nichols of local biz, Turf 2 Tree Horticulture suggests.
“Wisteria and ornamental grapes will be especially busy and will take over the whole garden if you let them. Prune off any unwanted growth as often as you can.”
Our gardening expertise extends to grabbing the nearest pair of secateurs and hacking at anything that looks a little hectic. Probz not the right way to go about pruning, we think!
So we asked Michael for his best cutting technique and pruning tips so we can do this all-important summertime job right and not end up with a garden of sticks!
Michael Nichols of Turf 2 Trees Horticulture
1 // Prune to the 4D’s
Oooookay….what are they?
“Anything that is Dead, Diseased, Disorderly or Damn Right Ugly!” Michael says.
Pruning can change a plant’s shape, remove dead or diseased parts, or improve the quality or quantity of its flower and fruit. The natural form of a plant changes as you prune it.
“If it’s not adding aesthetic value to your garden, or it’s going to impact the risk of your own little eco-system you’ve created, get rid of it.”
2 // Use good quality tools
Michael says the key to effective pruning is using sharp, pruning tools.
“Sharp tools make a clean cut that heals quickly and prevents disease from entering the wound,” he says.
“If you don’t feel confident pruning yourself, that’s where outsourcing can help. A good garden maintenance or landscaping team will have the right tools and invest time and money in keeping them in top condition.”
Wisteria is fantastic for providing shade, but can quickly overtake other plants if not pruned regularly.
3 // Prune buds facing the direction the shoot is going to grow
“Ideally buds should be pointing away from the centre of the tree or bush,” Michael says.
“This will keep the centre of the bush open for the light.”
And make sure you don’t cut too close to the bud, as that can cause it to die.
4 // Cut in the right spot
Best practice for pruning is to cut above the bud, at an angle of about 45 degrees. If the angle of the cut is too flat, it can hold water which can rot the bud.
“Don’t leave rough or jagged edges,” says Michael.
“Water will run off the cut, keeping the surface dry and preventing disease.”
Neat and tidy is the way to go (which is why you need the sharp tools too).
It’s all in the angle of the cut – 45 degrees is the way to go.
So there you go! Michael has also helped us out with what to do with our gardens all year round. Here’s his advice on how to manage our gardens in spring, summer, autumn and winter too! Bookmark it, peeps.
The Essential Autumn Guide For Your Highlands Garden
The Essential Winter Guide For Your Highlands Garden
The Essential Spring-Time Guide For Your Highlands Garden
The Essential Summertime Guide For Your Highlands Garden
Turf 2 Trees Horticulture is a Landscape and Estate Management business, specialising in acreage, formal gardens and show gardens with over ten years of horticulture and turf management experience. A local business who has mastered the art of their craft in the unique Highlands climate, the team at Turf 2 Trees Horticulture focus on efficiency and high-quality property maintenance.
…
This blog features friends and advertisers of The Fold Southern Highlands and is fully endorsed by The Fold Southern Highlands. We strongly believe in the businesses and all the information we share with you on The Fold and we’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses. We want to say a BIG thank you to you for supporting our sponsors who help make The Fold possible.