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Spring
Pruning
 What
to prune when?
The
best time to prune is while plants are dormant,
which generally means late winter or early
spring. This includes…
- Summer-blooming bushes
and shrubs
- Roses
- Fruit trees
- Evergreen trees
- Vines
- Ornamental grasses (tie
the tops before cutting for quicker clean-up)
Spring-blooming
shrubs like rhododendrons should be pruned
later in the season, after they’ve
bloomed. Dead or diseased branches on any
plant should be removed as soon as you spot
them, any time of year.
 What
tool should I use?
Pruning
is easier and better for the plants when
you use the right tool for the job.
- Bypass pruners
– blades cross each other for the
cleanest cut; best for live wood, green
growth and delicate plants
- Anvil pruners
– blade comes down on flat piece
of metal; best for dry or dead growth
- Loppers
– long-handled tool with either
bypass or anvil blades; puts less stress
on hands and fingers; best for thicker
branches and farther reach
- Extendable tree
pruners – various cutting
devices including saws; best for high,
hard-to-reach branches
Sharp
tools make cleaner cuts, which help plants
heal sooner. Also make sure to use tools
with a large enough cutting capacity for
your plants – cutting a stem too large
for your pruner can twist and damage your
plant.
 What
can I find at Fred Meyer?
You'll
find all of the above varieties of pruners
at Fred Meyer. Here are two versatile hand
pruners that will earn their permanent place
in your gardener's tool belt:
- Corona 3/4"
Anvil Pruner – Especially
designed for dry, woody growth up to 3/4"
in diameter. Vinyl handles make for comfortable,
no-slip cutting. The blade is easy to
resharpen, as well as replace.
- Corona 1"
Bypass Pruner – This heavy
duty pruner slices through growth up to
1" in diameter with its replaceable,
resharpenable Radial Arc® bypass blade.
Includes a wire-cutting notch.
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