Pruning: Why It's a Game-Changer for Your Garden

Gardening is both an art and a science, and pruning is one of the most effective practices in any gardener's toolkit.

Pruning involves cutting off unwanted parts of plants, such as dead or weak branches, or selectively cutting off branches to foster new growth. It involves making smart cuts to keep the plants healthy and pretty.

Think of it as something you can do for yourself too; sometimes you have to trim parts of your life to let new things come to you. How sometimes you have to cut people out or let go of opportunities so better things can find their way to you.

Let’s dive into this essential technique, learn its benefits, common mistakes people make, whether pruning is worth it, and learn how to do it correctly to keep your garden thriving.

Why Should We Prune?

Keeps Plants Healthy:
Cutting away the bad parts stops diseases from spreading. They also help encourage new growth when we cut out the vulnerabilities of the plant so the plant can focus on new growth.

Controls the size:
Through pruning, we can ensure the size of the plant. We can trim the plant to make it bushier, or we can reduce the size to accommodate our space.

Boosts Flower & Fruit Production:
Who doesn’t want a bushy plant full of flowers and fruits? Pruning is one of the most effective ways to increase the yields of our plants. Whenever you trim a petunia after it has grown a flower, you get more flowers right there!
 

Improves Garden Appearance:
Pruning can make sure your garden looks the way you want it to. You can regularly cut dried branches and leaves to make your garden the talk of the town.

Here are some benefits at a glance:

How to Prune Plants for Growth?

Pruning is simple and beginner friendly, and here’s how I have been pruning:

Timing:
Late winter or early spring is usually best. Plants are usually dormant at this time. But whenever I see a dried branch or leaf, I trim them immediately. I also immediately cut if any pests attack the plant & apply neem oil too.

Making Cut:
I cut at an angle, just above a bud that’s facing outside. This way, new branches grow out, not in. Our aim is to make the plant healthier and bushier!

Sterilised Tools: Regardless of what tools you use, they should be clean and sterilised. Using dirty tools can cause damage to the plants. Clean your plants with Detol or sanitiser.

Now you may ask, is pruning the same as trimming? Well, not really. The primary objective of trimming is to control the size of the plant and to improve its appearance, whereas pruning is done to increase the blooms and fruits as well as keep the plant healthy and happy.

What are some common pruning mistakes?

When I started my gardening journey, I made some common mistakes while pruning the plants. Here are the mistakes I made so that you won’t have to!

Prune only when necessary
Pruning shouldn’t be a regular activity. It should only be done when required.

Bad Timing
Pruning some plants can also affect them negatively and hamper their growth. Most plants are dormant in winter or the beginning of spring, which is an ideal time to prune them.

Using Dirty Tools
Plants are also living beings, and we should only use sterilised tools. Using dirty tools can cause damage to the plant. 

Is Pruning Really Worth It?

Absolutely. It might seem a bit scary to cut your plants, but it’s for their good—and yours. They end up healthier, safer, and more beautiful. Just make sure you’re doing it right, and you’ll see how they thrive. Here's a video for you that can summarise pruning in a minute:

Wrapping Up

So, grab those scissors, give your garden a little haircut, and make them shine. Remember, a little pruning here and there can make a big difference. Your plants will thank you with lush growth and beautiful blooms.

Happy pruning! If you have any questions, do comment!