pruning tools Sharpen up your secateurs and do some autumn pruning. It will keep your garden looking good through the winter and make it more productive next year

Why prune?

to keep a plant healthy
to control its shape or size
to encourage flowers and fruit

Tools

sharp secateurs - for cuts up to 1cm
loppers - for cuts up to 2cm
a pruning saw and/or a bow saw - for larger cuts
shears - for trimming hedges and clipping over lavender and heather

Clean and dry your tools after you've used them and they'll last you a lifetime.

3 general pruning tips

pruning

Always cut back to a leaf, bud or branch. Don't leave a snag of wood that might become diseased.
If the buds on the plant you are pruning are opposite each other, cut straight across the stem about 0.5cm above the buds.
If the buds are on alternate sides of the stem, choose a bud that is pointing in the direction you want it to grow and cut at an angle pointing in the same direction as the bud and about 0.5cm above it.

Branches

Use the three-cut method to remove large branches: make the first cut in the underside of the branch, about two feet from the trunk. Cut no deeper than a third of the branch's diameter. Make the second cut on the top of the branch, two or three inches from the first. This cut should sink until the branch snaps and falls to the ground. The third cut is the 'flush cut', a single cut made to the raised ring, or collar, at the base of the branch, so all that remains is a smooth surface.

Shrubs

First, deal with the 'three Ds': cut off any dead, diseased, or damaged wood. Next, remove any crossing branches and anything that clutters the centre of the plant. How much you cut out depends on the type of shrub and how naturalistic you want your garden to look. Stand back and look. Aim to create an open shape, with plenty of space for new growth. It's better to cut out three to five of the oldest stems each year than to remove too much.

ivillage uk

Autumn pruning

Why prune?

Tools

3 general pruning tips

Branches

Shrubs