Gardening is a lot of work and all of it is manual. If you want to keep your trees, shrubs, and bushes in perfect condition, one of the gardening techniques you should master is pruning.
Every home gardener should at least understand the basics and importance of pruning.
Pruning is the process of cutting away excess or dead branches away from a tree or other plants.
Aside from making the plant look easier on the eyes, pruning can also promote better growth and fruitfulness. Here are a few tips if you’re going to do your own with pruning equipment.
1. Always Sharpen Your Tools
As you would sharpen a knife for the kitchen, it’s important that you sharpen your pruning tools as well.
The sharper it is, the easier it is to prune your trees and bushes. Invest in a good whetstone or a grinding tool to make sure that your pruning equipment is always in good condition.
The downside to using unsharpened tools is that you can end up destroying the plant instead of actually helping it grow.
The cleaner the cut, the better the pruning process will be. Always sharpen your tool before and after pruning.
2. There’s A Technique For Each Type Of Plant
There’s no one way to prune a plant. What you do depends on what you are pruning.
For instance, learning how to cut palm fronds is different from simply cutting away branches from a tree.
If you treat pruning as one and the same across all plants, you might end up ruining your garden instead.
It’s important that you know the techniques because you’d want to make sure that your pruning doesn’t cause damage to the plant.
The good news is that pruning techniques are readily available online so it’s very easy to learn how to do it without any trouble.
3. Use The Right Pruning Tools
There are various types of pruning tools and knowing which one to use for the occasion is important.
A lot of people think that pruning tools are all-in-one equipment. That’s not at all true. If you use the wrong pruning tool for the job, you’re not going to cut things properly.
For thicker branches, you might want to use a pruning saw because scissor-type tools are not going to cut through it easily. For smaller pruning tasks, go for anvil types as these provide a cleaner cut.
4. Always Cut At An Angle
When pruning, always make sure that you are cutting at a proper angle. This will make it easier for the branch to grow naturally in the future.
Newbie gardeners think that cutting directly is the way to go but this can actually cause some problems for the plant in the future.
Ideally, you’d want to cut at a 45-degree angle. This ensures that the plant is going to grow naturally in the future. This can also prevent growth problems too.
You increase the chances of the branches rotting if you don’t cut at an angle and that can cause severe damage to your plant.
5. Work With Gloves On
The handles of pruning equipment are rigid for a reason and this is because the makers want to make sure that you have a firm hold on the tool.
It’s very useful but it can cause blisters and calluses on your hands too. If the branch is really tough, it can even cause minor injuries.
If you have gardener’s gloves, make sure to wear them while pruning. It’s not usually a problem if the branch is easy to cut off.
However, for thicker branches or harder pruning projects, wearing gloves is a must if you want to keep your hands problem-free.
Gardener’s gloves also give you a stronger grip on your tools as well so it’s really worth the investment.
6. Take Care Of Your Pruning Tools
After you are done with your tools, make sure to wipe off any sap or any moisture away from the blades. If you can, wash the pruning tools carefully, pat them dry and then leave them to dry naturally.
This will prevent rust from forming on the tools themselves. This ensures they stay sharp for a long time.
As for storage, make sure to store your pruning equipment in a dry and room-temp location. It should not be stored inside a damp room as the moisture in the air can cause rust problems for your tools.
Learning how to properly prune is a good way to help your garden grow as properly as possible. Hopefully, these tips help you properly use your pruning equipment.
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