After long months of harsh winter, the month of April finally lets spring officially take hold and more pleasant temperatures gently settle in. For gardeners in a hurry to get on with preparing future summer harvests in the vegetable garden and tending to the garden as a whole, this month often marks the start of the gardening season. Armed with sharp pruning shears, they rush to prune their trees. However, this well-intentioned practice can sometimes have detrimental consequences on the growth and vitality of your precious shrubs. Indeed, certain plants are particularly sensitive to cuts made at this time of year, thus risking being seriously damaged or even dying. Discover the reasons why it is crucial to refrain from pruning certain types of trees in April and which ones deserve a good trimming.
Why shouldn’t you prune certain trees in April?
-Not pruning certain trees in April is based on several crucial factors for their health and growth. At this time, many trees begin to emerge from their winter dormancy. Pruning at this time can therefore disrupt this process and cause unnecessary stress to the treethus compromising its ability to fully develop.
-Moreover, wounds caused by cutting are entry points for diseases and parasites. By pruning in April, when sap is actively flowing through the tree, these wounds may have a harder time healing effectively, leaving the tree vulnerable to infection.
-In addition, freshly pruned trees can show themselves moreus vulnerable to frost damagestill relevant in certain regions of France.
-This can also strongly disrupt flowering and fruiting. For many trees, pruning before or during flowering can actually compromise their ability to produce flowers and fruit. By disrupting or removing flower buds, cutting in April can significantly hinder active growth of some varieties.
-Finally, pruning too early risks altering the aesthetics of the tree and unbalancing its natural shape, hence the importance ofwait until it has finished its spring growth.
Which trees should not be pruned in April?
The trees you just planted
Early pruning could represent a danger for these young trees which have not not had enough time to develop a solid root system. Better to give them more time to get established.
Flowering trees
A tree in full bloom may have fewer flowers if you disrupt flowering by pruning. Be careful with flowering cherry trees or prunus trees.
Trees that flower in summer or fall
To avoid compromising their floweringavoid pruning evergreen magnolias. Likewise, follow the same precaution for hibiscus, forsythias and even crape myrtles.
Evergreen trees
They have very specific pruning periods and are particularly sensitive to frost. This applies to some conifers (oak, pine, etc.), citrus fruits and palm trees.
Sick or stressed trees
Signs of illness or stress such as injuries could further weaken your tree.
Which trees should be pruned before the end of the month?
If certain specimens in the garden can grow quietly for a little longer without requiring the slightest intervention, others must on the contrary imperatively receive a cut to flower better, see fruits appear or even just stay in good health to approach the months to come. come in good health. However, consider use sharp and appropriate tools so as not to damage your tree.
Also, it is essential to prune fruit trees (cherry, pear or even apple trees) before bud burst and don’t forget to also take care of trees that grow quickly (willow, poplar, etc.) to keep a nice shape and not find yourself overwhelmed later. Also remember to prune your spring flowering shrubs as soon as flowering ends for successful growth and abundant flowering without damaging your trees (lilac, etc.). Finally, it is better to prune deciduous trees (maple, dogwood or linden for example) to rid them of potentially dead, diseased or damaged branches. This will also allow you to keep a tree with an aesthetic structure.
As for trimming hedges, remember that the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) strongly advises against doing so after March 15. For farmers, this practice is even prohibited by law between March 16 and August 15. In order to respect the nesting period of birds and biodiversitytherefore avoid pruning during this key period.