Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs

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About Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide To 50

Product Description “One of the most practical and helpful how-to gardening books I have ever read.” —The Oregonian Are you intimidated by pruning? Or tired of paying a professional to tackle the task? You can prune most trees and shrubs on your own, and Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time. Review “When it comes time to prune your trees and shrubs, don’t make a cut without consulting Pruning Simplified by Steven Bradley, who offers instructions for formative, routine and, most useful in old gardens, remedial cutting for plants that have become leggy and unproductive.” —The New York Times Book Review “This comprehensive guide on a topic of interest to virtually all gardeners is highly recommended for public library collections.” —Booklist, starred review “Bradley’s guide is one of the most practical and helpful how-to gardening books I have ever read.” —The Oregonian "Steven Bradley makes pruning simple by showing you exactly how to prune 50 different popular garden shrubs and trees." —Garden Gate “This comprehensive guide on a topic of interest to virtually all gardeners covers both general guidelines for pruning and individualized, plant-specific tips.” —Booklist “There is nothing better for learning how to prune than a good line drawing with hash marks where you’re supposed to make the cuts. That’s why we like Pruning Simplified by Steven Bradley/Timber Press.” —South Sound Magazine “Step-by-step advice that will help your plants thrive.” —Green Profit From the Back Cover Take pruning from daunting to doable! New gardeners and green thumbs alike can prune with confidence, using this detailed guide to the most popular plants in home gardens. Learn the best tools for each job, discover the ideal time to prune, and follow the step-by-step advice that will help your plants thrive. Profiles of 50 popular trees and shrubs——including azaleas, camellias, clematis, and more——show how to trim and shape each plant correctly. Packed with trusted advice, Pruning Simplified will ensure your first cut is the right cut, every time. About the Author Steven Bradley is director of horticulture at Merrist Wood in England. He is respected as one of Great Britain’s foremost horticulturists. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Introduction At its simplest, pruning is a means of manipulating a plant’s growth, shape, and productivity by cutting and training it to achieve what you want to happen. To prune plants well is not so much about knowing how and where to cut but about knowing what you are trying to achieve. The main reasons for pruning are to train a plant to grow in a particular way, to balance its growth, to control the production of flowers and fruit, to maintain its health, and to restrict its growth. A final type of pruning, remedial or renovation pruning, may also be necessary from time to time. Careful pruning in the early years—often referred to as formative pruning—will allow you to create a plant that is well-proportioned, attractive, and that carries flowers or fruits where they are visible and easily reached for picking. A tree or shrub with well-spaced stems and branches with good angles will reduce the risk of breakage and stem splitting. Plants pruned correctly while they are young are easier to care for in later years. Time spent on training and pruning young plants should be regarded as an investment in their future and as a time-saving, long-term benefit for the gardener. A healthy plant should show signs of vigorous, active growth, especially when it is young and establishing itself. Most plants will