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HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?by Luisa Ferrari |
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| . | p32 The smaller the size of the garden the more pruning becomes in time a necessary discipline. Whereas in parks and large gardens plants can be allowed to grow unchecked and attain their full size, the proximity of boundaries in the majority of Stoke Newington' s 'outdoor rooms' means that trees and shrubs affect the amount of light and sun available. They also have a serious impact on neighbouring plots. With the exception of fruit trees such as pears and apples (which should
be pruned in mid to late Winter) chopping back vegetation in the Winter is a common but
misguided practice which can unnecessarily stress the plant in cold spells. It also
affects the aesthetic value of the garden for months, as the plants will wait for Spring
anyway before producing any fresh growth. However urgent, pruning should not be carried
out without good reason and it should be timed appropriately. Most Spring flowering shrubs
like Forsythia, a ubiquitous inhabitant of many local gardens which this year has bloomed
quite early, should be pruned after flowering has finished. This is mainly to control its
vertical and horizontal spread, often excessive for the space available, without
destroying next year's flowers born on the stems produced this season.
Approached carefully and with a specific knowledge of each plant's
requirements, pruning to restrict size offers great potential for increasing the range of
plants that can be grown in a limited space. Further, early training of suitable young
specimens lays the foundations for healthy, mature plants capable to fill the allocated
position. Many shrubs confined to the narrow side borders typical of local small gardens
tend to develop unnaturally tall or unbalanced shapes because constant chopping back at
the lower levels prevents them from following their natural growth habit. A good
percentage of these cases are simply a question of 'wrong plant in the wrong place' and
each specimen's tolerance of restrictive pruning should be carefully checked together with
its horticultural requirements before planting, particularly in very confined situations.
By choosing species or varieties with the right shape and size for each position, the need
for remedial pruning will be kept to a minimum.
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