Posted on Dec 3, 2023 at 12:02 pm by Oliver C
Maintaining your garden during the winter can be a challenge, but it is important to follow the proper practices to ensure the health and growth of plants in the spring. We will present you with tips based on the content of our competitors’ websites for pruning your fruit trees, annual flowering shrubs, roses, and deciduous trees.
Table of Contents
Pruning fruit trees: be cautious with stone fruit trees
It is important not to prune stone fruit trees, such as cherry, peach, or apricot trees, as this can compromise their health and productivity. Other fruit trees can be maintained during this period by cutting dead or diseased branches to promote better growth. However, for those who want to boost their harvest next year, there are specific fruit trees to prune this winter.
Maintaining annual flowers: pay attention to perennials like salvias
To prevent the spread of seeds that can sometimes spread throughout the garden, remember to prune annual flowers, especially salvias. In addition to removing unwanted seeds, pruning will allow plants to grow more densely and organized.
- Gently remove faded flowers and dead or yellowed leaves.
- Cut stems to about 10-15 cm from the ground.
- Thin out dense plants to promote the penetration of light and air.
Caring for roses: remove fruits to prevent unwanted shoots
Winter is also a favorable period to take care of your roses. To prevent shoots at the base of the bush, it is essential to remove fruits (or rose hips) that form after flowering. This will ensure healthy and balanced growth for your rose.
- Use thick gloves to avoid injuries caused by thorns.
- Carefully cut fruits with a well-sharpened and clean pruner.
- Regularly clean the pruner with alcohol to prevent the spread of diseases.
Pruning deciduous trees: take advantage of this season to give them an ideal shape
Winter is the ideal time to prune deciduous trees like weeping willows, as their leaves fall during this period. This pruning will help structure and balance the tree and facilitate the circulation of light and air around it.
Some tips for successful pruning:
- First, cut dead or broken branches.
- Prune branches that cross or rub against each other.
- Remove suckers and vertical shoots to maintain the weeping appearance of the tree.
- Maintain an adequate height by cutting branches that are too low or too long.
Trees and shrubs to prune in winter
Winter may seem like a period of rest for your garden, but it also offers a valuable opportunity to take care of your trees and shrubs. Here are some tips on which trees and shrubs to prune this season to optimize their health and growth:
- Pome fruit trees (apple, pear): Pruning in winter promotes the formation of strong branches and future fruiting of these fruit trees.
- Actinidia (kiwi): Proper pruning in winter helps control the growth of this fruit vine, promoting a more abundant fruit production.
- Boston ivy (ampelopsis): Pruning in winter helps maintain this climbing plant under control and encourages healthy growth.
- Annual flowers (zinnias and salvias): Prune them in winter to prepare for vigorous flowering when spring returns.
- Hibiscus (tips): By cutting the tips in winter, you eliminate unwanted seeds and encourage better flowering in spring.
- Roses: Remove fruits in winter to prevent excessive budding at the base of the bush and promote more abundant flowering.
- Deciduous trees: Take advantage of this season to perform necessary pruning on these trees, improving their structure and appearance.
- Weeping willow: Winter pruning is ideal for controlling the growth of this elegant tree.
By applying these practical tips, you will provide proper care for your garden during the winter period and contribute to healthy and lush growth in spring.
