Pruning Group 12

Moderately Vigorous Climbers

Climbers and wall shrubs need regular pruning in order to maintain their shape and vitality. Moderately vigorous climbers need pruning annually; after flowering for those that flower on the previous year's growth, or in late winter or early spring for those flowering on the current year's growth.

When to prune -

• Plants that flower on the current season’s growth are often pruned in late winter or early spring.

What to prune -

• Shorten side shoots to within three to four buds of the permanent framework of branches

• Dead head flower that have gone over

• Branches that are weak or spindly in order to promote stronger growth in others

• branches are diseased, damaged or dead (the three Ds).

• branches are congested or crossing each other.

• branches are growing in unwanted directions (e.g. in toward the centre of the plant)