Pruning is one of those tasks that some people would rather avoid than tackle themselves, but with the right equipment, it is easier than you think. Retailers can advise customers how to prune plants provided they use the right tool for the job. This is where Agrinet’s range of Lasher pruning products comes in handy. Keep this article at hand for your customers’ benefit. We put this pruning guide together for you.

In general, you should prune when plants are in their dor­mant or resting period, pre­ceding a time of active growth during which the wound will heal rapidly.

The best time to prune is during late winter or early spring before growth begins. The least desirable time to prune is when the new growth begins, as a great amount of food stored in the roots and stems is used in developing new growth.

Hedges must be pruned regularly to remain attractive.

• To train the plant.
• To maintain plant health (re­move dead, diseased, weak or broken branches).
• To improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage and stems.
• To restrict growth (control size and shape).

By this method, branches are cut back to healthy buds. This leaves a close cut to a bud from which new growth begins.

By this process, a shoot or branch is completely removed either back to ground level or back to another main branch or trunk. No prominent stub remains.

Some plants require more than one method than another, but good pruning is usually a combination of both procedures.

Agrinet offers an extensive range of quality garden shears, pruners, loppers and pruning saws.

Hand secateurs are probably the most important tool for pruning. The Lasher bypass medium duty secateurs are designed for general purpose pruning use.

Hedge shears are ideal for trimming hedges, brushes, shrubs and light duty pruning. Lopping shears are used for trimming twigs and other branches to a maximum diam­eter of 25mm. They have long handles with PVC grips.

Pruning saws are used for branches larger than 25mm in diameter. They have narrower blades with coarse teeth that are designed to cut on the pull stroke.

Keep pruning tools sharp so they can make smooth clean cuts and disinfect all tools with denatured alcohol after pruning diseased parts of the plant.

Retailers could suggest compli­mentary products to customers to use in conjunction with prun­ing. Agrinet stocks most of these:

• Pesticides – A spray insecti­cide to kill insects once the plant has been pruned.
• Gloves – To protect the gar­deners hands.
• Mulch – To be applied to the garden after pruning.
• Rakes – To rake up the cut­tings.
• Forks - To apply the mulch
• Wheelbarrows – To take away the cuttings.