The cold season offers many plants a winter rest. Although plants need to be cared for all year round, the period between November and February is suitable for pruning in many cases.
In this gardening tip, we reveal some helpful Tips and tricks for perfect winter pruning.
Why should plants be pruned in winter?
Depending on the species, green favourites such as some fruit trees or shrubs can be pruned all year round. During the cold winter months, they are dormant, which makes this period ideal for pruning and we particularly recommend woody plants, fruit trees and ornamental trees for this, as they then sprout more vigorously again.
However, there are other advantages that make the cold months particularly suitable for this care measure:
- The absence of leaves makes pruning much easier.
- Plant sap flow is greatly reduced in winter, which naturally facilitates the healing process of wounds after pruning.
- Well-planned winter pruning also prevents uncontrolled growth in spring and ensures a vigorous start to the new garden year.
The right tools and other winter pruning tips
For a clean and flawless winter pruning well-maintained pruning tools with sharp blades are essential. This includes pruning shears, loppers and pruning saws for the thicker branches to make the work easier and protect your own muscles. It is also always advisable to wear protective gloves.
Be careful when it's too cold
Although it is common to speak of winter pruning, which refers to the cold winter months, you should pay close attention to the outside temperature. This has to do with the reaction of the wood to the temperature. At very low temperatures, the wood splinters more easily and the wounds heal less well, which can have some negative consequences. For this reason, pruning should not be carried out at temperatures below -6 °C.
Some basic rules for the perfect cut:
- Always cut directly above a bud or side shoot.
- Ensure that the interface is slightly sloped so that water can drain off better.
- Avoid blunt tools, as wounds in the form of frayed cuts are entry points for fungi and bacteria.
All shoots that are diseased, injured or rotten should generally be pruned back to healthy wood. To recognise where the wood is healthy, pay attention to the inner colouring, which should be greenish-white.
Don't worry: There is no danger that the shoots will not grow back, as weak pruning leads to weak new shoots. In contrast, the budding and growth phase will be stronger if the winter pruning was also carried out vigorously. If you still have any doubts, contact us, we look forward to providing you with expert support
Ornamental shrubs: winter pruning for the habitus
Ornamental shrubs have a purely decorative or ornamental value in the garden. For this reason, care is always focussed on the habit, i.e. the growth habit, which requires annual pruning. On the one hand, pruning helps to promote growth and, on the other, to keep excessive shoots in check.
Young ornamental trees and shrubs are trained into an appropriate shape right from the start. Annual pruning in late winter is therefore necessary to maintain the shape and an abundance of flowers.
If you have other trees in your garden and are looking for professional help and advice for the winter pruning of your trees, we are at your disposal!
Fruit trees: winter pruning for fruit formation
In contrast to ornamental trees, the purpose of fruit trees is to produce fruit. In order to maintain the balance between fruit formation and shoot growth in fruit trees, we also recommend annual pruning. However, fruit trees should also be pruned in late winter, before spring awakens, in the months of February and March. The same applies to soft fruit and stone fruit.
Thinning and pruning in the crown of the tree also has other advantages:
- The wood of the trees can dry better after rain, which prevents fungal infections.
- The increased incidence of light after removing the branches through the open crown improves the colour, flavour and vitamin content of the harvest.
In principle, the following applies: Too many shoots mean more shade in the crown and therefore smaller fruit with a weaker flavour. Fewer, carefully positioned shoots, on the other hand, produce quality fruit and a healthy plant.
A practical tip: When pruning, radically remove so-called water shoots, i.e. vertically growing shoots without flowers. These consume energy unnecessarily and do not bear fruit.
Roses - What needs to be considered in this special case?
Roses are among the most popular and certainly most beautiful garden plants, but they also need skilful pruning and we have a few tips for you. You can use the forsythia as a guide for the best time to prune. As soon as it starts to flower, it's time to prune.
However, the type of winter pruning depends on the species:
- Bedding roses and scallions: Prune back vigorously, usually to three to five buds per shoot.
- Shrub roses: Shorten only slightly, remove dead or too thin shoots completely.
- Climbing roses: Retain the main shoots, cut back side shoots to three to five eyes.
Regular pruning by a garden professional or hobby gardener with experience keeps the plant flowering, which is exactly what we want from rose bushes in the garden.
Not suitable for winter pruning - Which trees should never be pruned in winter?
Not all plants tolerate pruning in the cold season. These include, for example, spring-flowering plants such as lilacs or ornamental cherries, which develop their flower buds in the previous year. Winter pruning would remove these and result in the flowering failing in spring. Summer-flowering plants can be pruned in late winter, but also in spring.
Evergreen plants such as boxwood, cherry laurel or arborvitae are also best cut back in spring or summer, as frost can damage the freshly cut areas and lead to drought damage.
The professionals for garden maintenance
For years we have been designing Gardens, terraces and balconies and beautify them according to our customers' wishes. But after every design, regular maintenance is also required. That's why we have a maintenance team that passionately looks after your oases of well-being and, of course, also ensures the best winter pruning. The experts know what they're doing and are professionally, reliably and individually tailored to your plants.
Would you like to find out more about our projects? Then take a look at the photos and videos of some of our best Garden designs to.
Whether it's a small city garden or a large-scale garden, we will take care of your green oasis with experience and flair. Let us advise you.
FAQ
Do all plants have to be pruned in winter?
No, not all are suitable for winter pruning. Early-flowering and sensitive species such as lavender or hydrangeas should be pruned in spring or summer, otherwise they may lose their flowers or suffer frost damage.
What do you do with branches and leaves as clippings?
Smaller branches and twigs can be composted or chopped up and used as mulch. However, diseased or infested cuttings should be disposed of with the green waste to prevent the spread of disease.
How do you recognise whether a branch is dead?
A simple test: lightly scratch the bark with your fingernail or a knife. If the wood underneath is brown and dry, the branch is dead. Living wood is greenish and moist on the inside.
