On 4/14/2008 1:00 AM, sherwindu wrote:

andyc123 wrote:

Hi all,

Rather a newbie here I'm afraid. Very interested in wildlife
(www.gbwildlife.co.uk) and now want to learn the gardening side of
that.

We had the chance to look over our garden today which has got great
potential but has been a little neglected over the last few years. The
question is basically is it too late in the year to prune things back
(or is that a newbie question and does it depend what I am pruning).
We have lots of books but some of the advice seems a little tricky -
dont prune if risk of frost which may be as late as May but surely we
cant wait too late or everything will be in bloom??

We basically want to prune things back as many shrubs and gotten very
tangled and the plants underneath are not getting enough light.

We also seem to have quite boggy soil in parts so may need to look at
some drainage (I think due to the fact we live part way down a hill and
there is an underlying clay soil).

Thanks for any advice - we are worried about doing more harm that
good!

Andrew

--
andyc123

Andrew,

Be aware that if you prune non-dormant plants, you are going to
stimulate growth
as the plant's juices are flowing and it will try to push new growth to
make up for what
you prune off. Better to prune when the plant is dormant, to avoid
this. That would
probably be in the late Winter, in most climates.

Sherwin

Certain flowering trees should be pruned immediately after they flower.
This includes the ornamental varieties of the stone fruits (e.g.,
Japanese flowering cherry). Also, camellias and azaleas are pruned
after they flower. This might also apply to ornamental pome fruits
(e.g., flowering crabapple, evergreen pear).

In a home garden, citrus is pruned throughout the growing season for
appearance and to remove deadwood. Otherwise, it doesn't need pruning
at all. Never prune citrus in the late winter or early spring if frost
is still likely more than 3 weeks later, and don't prune in the fall if
frost is likely within the following 6 weeks.

My loquat flowered in the winter; its fruit is just now starting to
ripen. I'll prune it in the early summer after all fruit has been picked.

The heavy pruning of roses is indeed done in the winter (around New Year
Day for me). Every time I remove a dead rose blossom, however, it is a
form of pruning. I make the cut not merely to remove the flower but
also to shape the bush and direct new growth.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/