Whack 'Em Back - Getting More Flowers by Pruning

Search:

Whack 'Em Back - Getting More Flowers by Pruning - Read the following do it yourself/diy article to discover more about Whack 'Em Back - Getting More Flowers by Pruning and more about Plants-Flowers-Trees. - Information and article directory provided by S&S Designed Landscaping and The Landscape Design Site.
Home \| Plants-flowers-trees
Whack 'Em Back - Getting More Flowers by Pruning

Plants such as fuchsia and geraniums can be pruned back the end of Februray to early March. The long lanky growth of winter’s low sunlight should be pruned back hard. This stringy growth is not strong enough to support the weight of profuse summer blossoms and unless the plant is cut back, this summer the plant will look ugly when it should be a showpiece in your garden. I used to simply whack the geraniums back to six or eight inch stubs from their twelve to eighteen inch stems and allow them to regrow and resprout from their stalks. Remember that the more new growth you have on an annual plant, the more flowers it will produce. Plants that have woody stems such as fuchsia should not be so drastically pruned. Cut back leaving four to five side side shoots to remain on the main stem. Each of the side shoots can similarly be pruned back leaving only four or five leaves on each of the side shoots. Remember the cardinal rule of pruning. If you make a thinning cut (a cut that takes a shoot off from where it started as a bud) it will clear out and open up the plant. You will have reduced shoots from a thinning cut. If you make a topping cut (a cut anywhere else but where the shoot started as a bud) then you will increase the number of shoots and growth. In annual flowers, we use topping cuts to increase the number of shoots and subsequent flowers. Do use a sharp knife or garden pruners to make the cuts. Raggedly cuts seem to heal slower and are, well – ugly. Sharp tools are the mark of a good gardener and they are also much easier on your hands. Dull tools are harder to cut with and lessen the pleasure of gardening. This Article Was Written By: Doug Green
Doug Green is an award winning garden author who answers gardening questions and writes a free gardening newsletter at www.beginner-gardening.com. Article Source: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/diy Please Rate this Article Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Plants-Flowers-Trees Articles Via RSS! Additional Articles From - Home \| Plants-flowers-trees Lush without the Fuss! - Artificial Plants - By : BloomingArtificial Venus Fly Traps - Secret Care Tips - By : Frank Greensmith Toxic Plants For Your Furry Friend - Pets - By : Lalinda De La Fuente Even a Small Garden in your home can make a difference - Small Gardens - By : Munish Bhardwaj Flowers hold special place in our lives - Flowers - By : Munish Bhardwaj The Beauty of the Bonsai - By : Louise Greene The Varying Emotions of a Rose - By : Dexter Bedd The Rose is a Rose and Was Always a Rose - By : Dexter Bedd Congenial Conditions To The Healthy Growth of Plants Part III - By : Congenial Conditions To The Healthy Growth of Plants Part II - By : Free Landscaping Ideas Free Landscaping Pictures Directory Pictures Of Backyard Landscaping Buy Landscape Fabric Backyard Landscaping Ideas Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Landscaping Plan Landscaping Plans Lawn Care