Gardeners should avoid pruning these three plants in January

Despite the recent icy temperatures and morning frosts that last all day, garden maintenance needs to continue.

It may be a quieter season, but there are a small number of tasks that you can complete to help keep your plants and garden in tip-top shape ahead of the springtime. 

These include pruning fruit trees, roses and clematises; tidying up any dead or rotting plants, mulching, and giving plants some extra TLC and protection.

Hamid Ali, a landscape gardener and horticulture expert from Airtasker, has shared some helpful advice about the do’s and absolute don’ts for winter gardening.

Gardening in winter is often about maintenance and planning rather than planting, as the colder weather slows growth.

When it comes to cutting plants back in January, be aware that only specific ones should be touched. 

Some winter-appropriate tasks include cutting back dead or damaged growth by taking away stems, branches and leaves, particularly on herbaceous perennials or deciduous shrubs, like roses.

For pruning trees, focus on the likes of apple or pear trees or plain maple, as long as it’s not too cold, to shape them or remove damaged wood.

However, there are a small number of plants you should completely avoid pruning during this January.

Hamid explained that during this month, green thumbs should avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, lilac, and flowering currant. 

For example, if you prune them, the sensitive cut part of the plant will be exposed to harsh (cold) climate, ultimately providing unfavourable conditions to grow. This will result in the plant dying from the cut part. 

Pruning these plants in winter can remove flower buds that have already formed, reducing or eliminating blooms for the coming spring.

It's best to wait until after they flower, usually in late spring or early summer, to prune them.

Similarly, avoid pruning evergreens unless necessary, as they can be more susceptible to cold damage.

However, if you are planning on pruning some of your plants, the expert shared a few tips to make sure you receive optimal results and healthy growth when spring arrives.

These include:

• Focus on cleaning and maintenance - Winter is ideal for removing dead, diseased, or damaged wood from trees, shrubs, and perennials. This helps improve plant health and air circulation.
• Avoid heavy pruning - Winter pruning should generally be light, especially for deciduous plants. Heavy cuts can encourage tender new growth, which may be damaged by frost.
• Prune when the weather is dry - Prune on dry, mild days to reduce the risk of fungal infections and to prevent plants from being stressed by frost. But, there are certain plants which need heavy cuttings to grow them in good shape or canopy.
• Cut to a bud or branch junction - Always prune just above a bud or where a branch meets another, making clean cuts to promote healthy growth.
• Tools - Make sure to use the sharp blade/scissors to cut the branches.