Pruning
Pruning the plants, trees and shrubs in your garden is a skill, as a good understanding of each type of plant is essential. Therefore, these tasks can best be performed by a professional gardener. When performing the pruning yourself, these are some general rules to help you along.
Shrubs (woody shrubs) that bloom on old wood. These are shrubs that bear flowers and / or fruit on the braches that grew in the previous years. These shrubs need to be pruned after flowering and / or bearing fruit. Examples include: Forsythia, weigelia, gooseberry.
Shrubs (woody shrubs) that flower on young wood. These are shrubs getting new branches, the same year they bloom. These shrubs need to be pruned in early spring. Examples include: Roses, Buddleja, Ceanothus, Caryopteris.
Trees which can possibly ‘bleed’ sap after pruning need to be pruned in autumn (October to January). As soon as the sap starts to rise again in early spring, the plant cannot be pruned anymore. Examples include: Betula (Birch), Carpinus (Hornbeam), Juglans (Walnut), but also Grape (climber).
Hedges: pruning or trimming hedges could be done throughout the year. The best time is at the end of the growing season (June and October).
