Nursery and Gardening Tips

A Brief Guide to Pruning

Pruning is an important part of caring for your plants, trees, and shrubs. It involves removing dead or diseased branches and stems so that the plants or trees stay healthy for a long time. Regular pruning will ensure your garden stays manageable no matter what the season.

Here are some useful tips from the gardening pros at PC's Nursery & Landscaping Inc to help you maintain your garden:

• Pruning should be done regularly, or your plants and shrubs will get overgrown.
• In general, most new trees should not be trimmed the year they are planted unless you need to remove damaged branches.
• Remove dead, dying, or diseased branches on a regular basis. This can be done several times so the plant does not waste energy on those branches.
• Remove branches that cross each other as well as ones that grow inward or downward.
• Try to maintain the natural shape of the plant or tree while pruning.
• Pruning should be done during early spring so that new growth can begin. You will also need to prune during summer to remove spent flower heads. Some plants and trees will need pruning during winter. Get familiar with the flowering and growth cycle of your plants, shrubs, and trees so that you can tailor the pruning to suit their growth cycles.

Things to Remember While Fertilizing Your Plants

• Fertilize plants late summer or early fall. You can also fertilize them before growth starts during spring or mid-summer
• Don't apply any fertilizer to newly planted shrubs and trees until they have grown an adequate root system.
• Ensure you're using a safe dosage for your plants and bushes. Avoid adding too much fertilizer as this can damage the roots.
• Don't fertilize plants at the end of their growing season.
• Check the label of the fertilizer you're using for dosage instructions and how often to apply it.

If you're ready to start your garden and need beautiful plants and shrubs, visit our garden center in Dothan, AL. Speak to our experts for more tips on gardening and which plants and trees would best suit your landscape.