Pruning Herbs: Pinch the Soft Ones, Respect the Woody Ones
Nearly every mistake people make pruning herbs comes from treating them all the same. They split into two groups that want opposite…
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Pruning Houseplants: Cut by Habit, Root the Pieces
A leggy vine with bare stems and one sad leaf at the tip is not a lost cause, it is a pruning problem with an easy fix. The trick…
Pruning Spanish Lavender for a Second and Third Flush
Spanish lavender is the rebloomer of the family. It opens its pineapple-and-ears flowers earlier than any other lavender, and if you…
Pruning Timing Is a Growth Decision, Not a Calendar
Most pruning advice arrives as a calendar, which works until you own a plant that is not on the list. The rules are all downstream of…
Restoring an Overgrown Crepe Myrtle With Selective Pruning
Bad pruning shows up fast on crepe myrtle. Knobby stubs, skinny shoots, and weak branches that split in storms are all signs someone…
Rosemary Pruning Works Best as a Regular Light Harvest
The best pruning tool for rosemary is your kitchen scissors. Every sprig you cut for cooking is a small shaping cut, so a plant you…
Plant response
Three decisions that shape the result
The plant and its bloom cycle determine where and when to cut.
1
Name the objective
Remove a hazard, improve structure, or renew growth with a clear reason for each cut.
2
Confirm the timing
Check whether the plant flowers on old wood, new wood, or both.
3
Inspect after the cut
Watch bud growth and branch balance before scheduling more pruning.
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