Pruning and Dividing Flowers

Many flowers can be removed when they die or turn brown to encourage a second bloom late in the season. Removing dead flowers can also help prevent some plants from spreading when you do not want them to.

Most bulbs and roses can be pruned when the flowers begin to die. This helps to keep them from spreading if you have a specific pattern in your landscaping that you want them to adhere to. If you would like them to spread, leave the old blooms. This naturalization can help encourage spreading and a second bloom later in the season.

This is true of most perennials. After they flower, they use up a lot of nutrients producing seeds. By removing old blooms, you not only make the landscape look better, but you also help the plants to use their energy to make more flowers. Many people find that they can help plants produce more and more flowers by removing old ones promptly.

Some can be snapped off, some can be cut, and others need to be gently pinched off to avoid damaging new growth. This is true of marigolds and a few others that hold the growth buds directly under the old bloom.

Annuals will usually drop flowers on their own and then flower again before dying. If they don’t, then you can encourage them to bloom again by removing dead or dying flowers. Some hybrids have been introduced that will drop off by themselves.

If you have perennials that do not seem to be doing well, you can divide them into separate clumps giving them a chance to grow healthy again. After many seasons of being cut back, many perennials will have a lot of dead matter and old chutes in the center. Dividing helps new stalks and flowers to break free from the old clump and flourish once again.

Most perennials are best divided in early spring. They will have all summer to grow and establish roots. There are a few that are best divided in fall, usually ones that bloom first in the spring. However, many perennials do not survive early frosts.

The best time to divide is the spring or fall after the plant is as big and healthy as you want it to get. If you wait until it has a lot of small leaves in the center or weak stalks, then it can be harder to divide. Loosen roots as deep as possible to keep as many as you can intact. Then, cut from the top through the center into two halves or four quarters.

Replant and water liberally, taking great care to keep the roots moist and warm, but not hot. In the next few months, take care of your divided plants. Use a garden hose reel to make watering easy so that taking care is not a hassle. By dividing and removing old flowers, you can have a landscape that flowers beautifully year after year.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Prune Your Vines to Stimulate Growth

While climbing vines do their part to add layers and depth to the landscape of your yard and garden, they do demand attention at certain times of the year, to keep them growing healthily and vigorously. Whether your vines are climbing an old fence, the handrails of your front porch, or an erected trellis in a beautiful garden bower, certain sections of these vines must be snipped and pruned in order for the healthy areas to continue with their growth, beautifying your garden space.

Make sure you have the proper tools on hand before you begin pruning your climbers. Pruning clippers/shears must be extra sharp in order to do their job. Dull shears can actually damage your vines by leaving jagged cuts or splintering branches instead of providing the cleanest of cuts. Dully cut branches are not only less attractive, while these cuts are healing, they are easy prey for insect infestation or disease. Late winter, after the last snow and frost, is the best time to prune many of your hardiest vines such as various types of clematis, grapes, wisteria, and roses. If you are planning on tackling your roses, of course a pair of thick gloves should be on your shopping list as well.

With all climbers, you need to prune and cut back the dead or dying areas in order to keep new growth growing. If this is your first attempt at pruning, you should not be afraid. Hardy climbers such as your grapes can take beginners’ mistakes and still rebound, forming new growth come spring. You will get your exercise pruning your grapes back as experts suggest that nearly 90% of the plant should be cut away in late winter to stimulate the new growth of the upcoming season, so pace yourself! Make deliberate cuts with each attempt, taking care to leave the healthiest buds alone, cutting right above them on your wisteria or clematis. Thinning these plants of the dead branches and ratty stragglers can help them retain their shape while also increasing your chances for more blooms in the spring, so be diligent. As always, if any branches or buds appear infected with a pest or disease, cut them back immediately in hopes of stopping the unsightly infections from spreading throughout the plant. When pruning, you can think of yourself as doctor and stylist in one, making sure your plants remain healthy while shaping and training them as you desire.

Most vines and hardy climbers require a pruning session only once a year in order to maintain their growth throughout the seasons. As always, it is extremely helpful to mulch and fertilize your valued plants, especially after pruning in order to quickly supply the new growth with the necessary nutrients. An attentive showering of water from your garden hose reel after mulching provides the required water, motivating growth in burgeoning sections. With this once a year attention, you can make sure your vines grow their best and beautify your lawn and garden year round.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel, landscaping, and much more.