There’s something about pruning that seems to bring out aggression in people, especially men. However, pruning doesn’t have to be like a shoot-out at high noon. You don’t need to take out all your frustrations on your plants, nor should you be worried about occasionally being ruthless in the garden. Many people think that pruning is a very complex matter, but for home gardeners that’s not true. Prune whenever you want to make the place look neat and tidy, to trim a hedge or even to remove a plant that’s not performing. Don’t worry about cutting off flowers or fruit when necessary. Obviously if you were running an orchard you’d need a different approach &endash; you’d prune at certain times of the year and in a certain way to maximise your crop.
Boys’ toys
Don used an extendable pruner that he thought was excellent. It extends to about 6 metres (20′) and has a block and tackle attached to the cutting head. You stand on the ground, manoeuvre the head into position and then pull on the rope to prune off branches and twigs. The head can be removed and a saw attached if required. The great advantage of this tool is that you don’t have to climb ladders with sharp implements, so nobody gets hurt.
Pruning tips
prune at just about any time of the year
prune so that you think the whole thing either works better or looks better
always take your time and cut carefully and gently
aim for a clean, neat wound
when pruning large branches first make a small cut underneath to stop the bark tearing
when you’re unsure, prune in stages &endash; you can always take more off but it’s hard to stick bits back on again
don’t leave stubs poking out that might injure somebody – safety first
be ruthless when necessary
Free Pruning Guide!
The April edition of the Burke’s Backyard Magazine (available now at newsagents for $4.20) includes a 32-page zipout pruning guide, free!
Further information
Extendable pruners are available at hardware stores and some nurseries, and cost from $80.
