When the tips of these stems are removed, the lower buds which are found at the points or nodes where the leaves are attached to the stems and the branches are stimulated to grow. Depending on the particular species of the shrub, each node produces 1 to 3 buds. Gardeners understand their plants, their natural shapes and their individual rate of growth.

They would therefore decide on when and how to prune their plants. Pruning at different seasons elicits different responses from the plants. Thus, all of the plant’s energy gets concentrated in the remaining plant, and the dormant, or even the latent buds get activated to grow.

Since pruning results in the removal of the tips of the plants, care should be taken of the correct time and season to prune the plants, giving the plant time to form new tissues. Shrubs that flower early summer, before the midsummer, should be pruned after flowering i.e. in the early summer so that the new growth has enough time to mature and ripen, before they bloom the following year.

Typical examples of these flowering shrubs are Forsythia and Philadelphus. Shrubs that flower after the midsummer are pruned in winter or spring. They next blooms would be later on in the season after new growth takes place.

Floribunda roses are an example of shrubs that flower after midsummer. The best time for pruning evergreens are in the mid-spring. They can be smoothened and shaped.

This way the young shoots would grow only after the frost. Old shrubs which are a gardener’s old friends can be given a new lease of life by cutting them 30 to 45 cms from the ground. To be safe, cut down 50% of the plant in year 1, which would allow for plentiful growth. Cut the remaining branches in year 2. Again vigorous regrowth takes place. What one has to remember is that the pruning has to happen before the bud breaks. Also, flowering shrubs should be pruned or deheaded immediately after they flower. Otherwise these shrubs will channel their energy into the making of their seeds.

We need to preserve this energy and so will need to cut off the flower heads. It is wise to remember that your plants should be pruned whenever they are damaged due to either senseless vandalism or bad weather. Make sure you have a good, sharp pair of secateurs so that the pruning is neatly and precisely done. They should be disinfected after you prune the plants.

This makes the hedge look natural and soft. Care should be taken while trimming flowering hedges. If trimmed too often, they will produce very few blooms.

Conifers and Evergreens like the rhododendron, acuba and the laurel, which have large leaves, are best trimmed with secateurs, so that the cuts are made on the wood.

Trees, on the other hand, do not need regular pruning as most of them should be allowed to grow to their natural shapes. What needs to be pruned are the dead or diseased branches during the winter. Sometimes a branch that crosses over to the trunk over other branches, needs to be pruned.

Snags, (which are standing partly or completely dead trees), must not be left after the branches have been cut off, or these may encourage diseases to enter the trees. Large cuts should be made smooth with a pruning knife and then painted with a bituminous paint to prevent entry of diseases. The pruning of ornamental plums, peaches and cherries is best carried out in the growing season soon after they flower. This would be in June, July or August. At this time of the year the cut heals quickly and there is less likelihood of them being infected by the Silverleaf, which is a fungal disease.

Trees which have been grafted, such as the ornamental cherries, peaches and plums, are often troubled with rootstock suckers. They may emerge either from below the ground or from the trunk of the tree below the graft union.

These should be cut back to their point of origin. Trimming your hedge before the fall and winter months also means that the new growth will happen only with spring flowering shrubs. The sides of the hedge should be trimmed at a slight angle so that it is wider at the base and slightly condensed at the top. This would allow sunlight to fall on all the leaves even those that are lower down. Always remember to disinfect the secateurs or shears after using them

With rhododendrons and azaleas, the clusters of seed pods can be twisted off the plant, taking care not to damage the buds which are developing below. Old flower heads of lilacs can be removed with a sharp pair of secateurs, cutting them off at the base. Heather and lavender require only a light trim with a pair of shears after they have flowered.

This also keeps the plants compact. Care has to be taken that only the flower heads are removed and the main shoot or stem are not cut or nicked.

Flowers that bloom in winter can be left till March or April before they are trimmed. Shrubs which have been budded or grafted onto a rootstock invariably throw up suckers. The plants that fall in this category include rhododendrons, azaleas and lilacs. Suckers can be removed by cutting them at their point of origin. Suckers are easily identifiable as the leaves are usually slightly different from those of the main growth. It is necessary to be alert to the presence of dead or diseased wood.

These are very easily infected, besides, of course, being unsightly. Dead or diseased wood should be cut off immediately. Shrub roses too have to be checked for dead wood. If you feel the bushes are becoming too thick, then a little of the old wood could be pruned. Apart from this, shrub roses do not need much attention.

If you want to grow more of your favorite plants from the seeds, then you cannot remove the flower heads. You will need the flowers to make the seeds. For example, flowers like the Clematis, Lunaria, and Pyracantha are not removed. Instead the seeds are collected for planting in the next season.

The flower bearing stems of the Lupin when cut back to the base soon after it has flowered will flower again later with another flush of flowers. Delphiniums, Phlox, Roses and Dianthus are some other flowers which flower again lusciously and for longer periods of time if the dead flower heads are removed.