Home » Pruning

Pruning

Pruning Lavendar

Pruning Lavendar

Question from Heather: I live near the coast. When is the best time to prune back lavendar? I did it a few months back, but not aggressively. Now they are even larger, too big in fact. Answer from Pat: Prune lavendar as soon as the main blossom season...

Dwarf grapefruit tree overpruned

Dwarf grapefruit tree overpruned

Question from Chuck: I made the mistake of pruning my dwarf grapefruit tree 3 years ago. I haven’t had a grapefruit since. What can I do? The tree is beautiful and healthy looking, but no fruit. Answer from Pat: If you cut your grapefruit tree...

Heavy pruning of olive trees while fruiting

Heavy pruning of olive trees while fruiting

Question from Kathleen: The condo complex I stay in started heavy pruning of all the fruiting olive tree today, 9-1-10. Is it healthy for the tree to be lose 80% of its leaves while developing its fruit? I do energy analysis and I thik the poor...

Long Reach Pruner

Long Reach Pruner

Question from John: Where did you get the long pole you used in one of your videos to reach under your plants.  It was a long pole with a handle and a gripping part at the end.  I have MD and it would be a great help to me Answer from Pat: Many years...

Peach Tree Problems and Solutions: Pruning, Fertilizer, and Dormant Spray

Peach Tree Problems and Solutions: Pruning, Fertilizer, and Dormant Spray

Question from Michael: My peach trees are about 7 yrs old and I have never trimmed them because I do not know how. I live in Illinois . About 4 yrs ago I had a good yeild of peaches and i canned them. Every year after when I get peaches, they seem to...

Time to Prune

Time to Prune

Question from Csaba: I am totally confused about the time of pruning, advises from friends, nurseries, experts, gardening books are completely perplexing. Southern California, San Clemente area, half way between Los-Angeles and San Diego. 3 blocks from...

Lavatera maritima

Lavatera maritima

Question from Charlie: It’s me again – the Lakeside woman that got married in Alice Menard’s garden. I was pruning my lavatera maritima last weekend and noticed a lot of large dead wood on it, as well as it appears to be more spindly...

Duranta “Sweet Memories” Pruning

Duranta “Sweet Memories” Pruning

Question from Cheryl: I am NOT a gardener and have had a dirt yard for 11 years. I finally had a friend install sprinklers and plants and promptly move away and left me on my own. Against my fence he put a Duranta and in six months it has grown to 8...

Pruning of Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus)

Pruning of Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus)

Question from Randy: One more question. When ground morningglory is done blooming how much can I cut it down? I’ve never had much luck with this plant after a year or two. I have some that looked great thru the bloom now look horrible. Cut them...

Care of Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)

Care of Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)

Question from Judy: My Buddleia is 10 years old and for the past couple of years, it just looks scraggly/leggy, droopy, yellowing leaves, few and puny blossoms. What am I doing wrong??? For the first few years, it produced beautifully. We have a large...

Sweetshade Pruning

Sweetshade Pruning

Question from Richard: I’ve never done s.s. and I’m a little apprehensive about regrowth when cutting back 2 feet on a 20×20 foot specimen in Dana Pt, because foliage only at end of branches. Does it readily sprout new growth on those...

Growing Kiwi’s in La Mesa

Growing Kiwi’s in La Mesa

Question from Jon: I hope you are recovering well from your surgery and feeling better.  My mother (who is 90) has also had several joints replaced as well as heart valve.  Hopefully the technology will continue to improve by the time I need something...

Can I prune my Podocarpus gracilior tree now

Can I prune my Podocarpus gracilior tree now

Question from Jim: Can I prune my podocarpus gracilior trees now. I have 10 trees in a row to have in a form of a hedge. Grown in the ground for 10 years in direct sunlight. My location is Encinitas, Ca. Answer from Pat: Yes, you can prune your fern pine...

How to Prune Perennials

How to Prune Perennials

Question from Carla: I have several perennials in my very small garden and I am not sure when or if I should cut them back. I live in Southern California. Some of my plants are Mexican heather, calibrachoa, and Marguerite daisy. Answer from Pat: People...