To prune or not to prune ... that is the question!

A gardener sat in a chair at her local salon, having her hair styled. The stylist was chatty and, knowing the gardener had beautiful roses, commented that hers looked very wild. The gardener asked if she had pruned them, and the stylist replied, "I'm scared of doing that. I don't want to damage or hurt them." The gardener replied, "Do you hurt or damage people's hair when you trim it?" Pruning is done for several reasons. In winter, it can stimulate new growth. In spring and summer, pruning can shape plants, encourage continued flowering, improve plant health, help prevent disease and reduce potential fuel in wildfire areas. So how do you know which parts to prune? Follow a few rules of thumb. Deadheading is the practice of removing flower heads that have finished flowering. This encourages the plant to make more flowers. Cut the spent flower off the plant above the leaves or buds just below it. Be careful not to cut or damage the new buds. When you prune also matters. Spring-flowering shrubs generally form their flower buds on growth from the previous year. For spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac (Syringa spp.), prune after flowering so new shoots have time to develop next year's flowers. Pruning lilacs should be done as soon as the flowers have died back. Timing is especially important in fall and winter. Pruning can stimulate tender new growth that freezing temperatures may damage. Avoid pruning in the fall so new growth will not be damaged during the cold winter. In winter when the plant is dormant, pruning is done to stimulate the plant to grow in the spring. New, vigorous shoots will appear in the spring from the point at which the plant is pruned. Before pruning California native plants, roses, fruit trees or shrubs, check recommendations for the particular plant and your location. Information on pruning some plants can be found at https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county. Also you can simply do a Google search for the specific plant along with the word "pruning." It is important though to also add your location – Placer County, your town, or your address! Any dead stems are at risk of causing disease to the rest of the plant and are fuel for fire. Sometimes a woody stem or branch can look dead but may not be the case. A small scrape in the bark can tell you if the part of the plant is still alive. If a fingernail scrape reveals green or white, healthy surfaces, then the stem is still alive. If it's brown, brittle, and dry, it's dead and should be removed. Consider the natural shape of the plant. For plants that benefit from an open structure, such as many roses and fruit trees, think of a wineglass shape. Remove branches growing toward the center and branches that cross or rub against each other. Select stronger, more vigorous stems and remove weaker growth. This improves airflow through the plant. As the stylist in the salon realized, pruning doesn't have to be intimidating. A few well-placed cuts can encourage flowers, improve plant health and help maintain its natural shape. The key is knowing what you're pruning and when to prune it. Learn a little about the plant before reaching for your pruners, then prune with purpose. For more information ask a UC Master Gardener at a local farmers market or read "Summer Fruit Tree Pruning" in the Summer 2024 Curious Gardener Newsletter. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already. Prune with purpose, and your plants will reward you with healthier growth and better flowers.