nurtomi

Before you prune

A good first cut starts with knowing what you want to keep.

A gardener pruning a plant; inspect your own plant before cutting.
A gardener pruning a plant; inspect your own plant before cutting. Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Look at the whole plant and decide why you want to cut. Trace the particular leaf, flower or branch back to its own connection. Identify nearby healthy leaves, buds and stems before touching the shears.

What to do

Use clean, sharp tools and remove only what you can identify. If the attachment is hidden or the plant is weak, pause and take a closer photo. You can always come back for another small cut.

Sources