Pruning
Pruning involves selectively cutting away parts of a plant to change its shape and size, promote flowering and fruiting, add structure to a garden layout or maintain or enhance a specific garden form. Pruning may be done on herbaceous (soft-tissue) or woody plants including trees and shrubs. Pruning is an invaluable horticultural skill that can be acquired with practice; however, certain projects such as pruning high branches and hazardous trees should be left to certified arborists. Contrary to popular belief, pruning does not halt plant growth but actually stimulates it. Pruning can help achieve this result because terminal buds at the ends of branches exert strong chemical controls to keep lateral buds lower on stems dormant; effective pruning allows gardeners to manipulate this process for their benefit. It’s best to prune most plants during their late dormant season.