DO IT
SEASONAL PRUNING
Cyclone aluminium bypass pruner, $37.98, I/N: 0012610
A CUT ABOVE
SHARPEN THE SECATEURS! IT’S TIME TO HEAD INTO THE GARDEN TO GIVE IT AN AUTUMN TRIM Words TAMMY HUYNH
T Photography Cyclone
he secret to strong, healthy and productive plants is in the pruning – and a good trim can work wonders. Timing is important, though, especially if you live in a colder region, as you might have to delay pruning certain plants until frosts are finished. Take a moment to learn which plants are happy to have a haircut at this time of year, and which aren’t.
Better shape up
“Autumn is a good time to prune summer-flowering plants,” says horticulturist Chloe Thomson of Bean There Dug That (@beantheredugthat).
“Remove spent flowers and cut to shape growth.” Use this time to also cut back hedges, tidy up shrubs and open up the canopy of some fruiting trees and plants. Not all plants benefit from an autumn chop, says horticulturist and landscape designer Lyndall Keating of Garden Society (gardensociety. com.au). “Certain plants require certain seasons for pruning,” she says. “Never prune when flower or fruit buds are forming, unless it’s to save the plant from a pest or disease attack.” But there’s some growth you should remove, regardless of season. “Prune dying or diseased branches, suckers and water shoots,” says Lyndall.
“Pruning helps to stimulate growth in the plant and thicken the foliage” Lyndall Keating, horticulturist and landscape designer
Suckers appear around the base of grafted plants like citrus or stone fruit. Water shoots are vigorous, upright growths on the trunk or branches. “These often occur on eucalypts and olive trees,” explains Lyndall. Also remove any branches growing in the wrong direction.
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