tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post4323159986016017261..comments2023-09-29T10:04:33.858+01:00Comments on Roger Brook - the no dig gardener: Don’t be afraid to remove large branches when you pruneRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-30042889407613076042013-10-03T08:16:36.921+01:002013-10-03T08:16:36.921+01:00I like your caveat, 'usually' Anna. When f...I like your caveat, 'usually' Anna. When for a client I rejuvenate a very old overgrown clematis or rose by cutting back really hard - almost completely to the ground - I warn them that the chance of success is only 90% and not to blame me!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-7840948695669123512013-10-02T21:01:41.898+01:002013-10-02T21:01:41.898+01:00I like your no nonsense approach to pruning! I mus...I like your no nonsense approach to pruning! I must admit every year I worry about pruning my apple and pear trees but I've not killed them off yet so I just lop as and where I think the tree needs it. I've already had to lop a bit off the apple tree because I couldn't get past it! Still looks healthy to me. Clematis is another one that fills me with fear and many a time I've Anna Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03919869821280585077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-40557063254545431422013-10-02T07:38:12.108+01:002013-10-02T07:38:12.108+01:00Just a further thought Rick. You mention the mow a...Just a further thought Rick. You mention the mow and blow brigade. I call them the lollipop pruners. I think it a dreadful shame that many gardeners regard pruning as a mysterious art and are too scared to prune themselves and pay these butchers to mutilate their plants! Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-59268568234488035062013-10-02T07:32:13.483+01:002013-10-02T07:32:13.483+01:00Shame on you Donna! But you are lucky to have a nu...Shame on you Donna! But you are lucky to have a nurseryman to do it properly. I know you are a USA master gardener yourself and knowing how fantastic with a camera you are you must have the artistic ability to be a good pruner.<br />Don't like the word 'trimming', sounds too much like 'hair cutting to me!<br />(although 'trimming' does describe the topiary on your boxwood Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-85673566291219100642013-10-02T07:23:45.441+01:002013-10-02T07:23:45.441+01:00Management has a lot to answer for. As to plants&#...Management has a lot to answer for. As to plants' ability to make strong new growth when they already have a large root system, enough to sustain a large plant, this does give the pruner wonderful opportunities to rejuvenate moribund old shrubs!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-55116662806957463102013-10-01T20:09:36.317+01:002013-10-01T20:09:36.317+01:00Great post, Roger! Let's hope all this hard pr...Great post, Roger! Let's hope all this hard pruning doesn't stimulate too much growth, or the management will be hinting again. Your garden looks great, by the way.Sarah Shoesmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410745860215082568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-3588014765500598452013-10-01T16:35:41.437+01:002013-10-01T16:35:41.437+01:00Hard pruning can be beneficial, but I always have ...Hard pruning can be beneficial, but I always have my friend the tree nursery owner and grower do my trimming. I just manage the little boxwood hedges.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-65479772744454746302013-10-01T11:04:22.250+01:002013-10-01T11:04:22.250+01:00Thanks Rick for your perceptive comments. I used t...Thanks Rick for your perceptive comments. I used to be hired for a day's pruning and became quite blasé about other people's shrubs. I would produce about twenty times the prunings shown in my picture - but disposal was my client's responsibility!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-39537083114113793922013-09-30T22:14:39.530+01:002013-09-30T22:14:39.530+01:00I was always taught that pruning stimulates growth...I was always taught that pruning stimulates growth, so on that basis hard pruning should hold no fears but you were a brave man with the magnolia. I have done the same myself, but as it was for someone else held my breath for a while. It seems that the 'mow and blow' brigade of maintenance gardeners tend to give haircuts after they have reduced the tree or shrub to some form of geometric Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-17616020716739586822013-09-30T07:44:47.459+01:002013-09-30T07:44:47.459+01:00I know this can be very expensive Mark and I sympa...I know this can be very expensive Mark and I sympathise. Especially as pruning is so much fun!<br />Unfortunately our local authority has sanctified a waste disposal unit at a farm up the road and in addition to taking green waste from the bins there are always lorries charging past at breakneck speed carrying landscaper's prunings . I believe it costs an arm and a leg!<br />The farmer makes Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-18126699262155119342013-09-30T07:32:41.148+01:002013-09-30T07:32:41.148+01:00Nice story GG. I am sure your aunt's garden wo...Nice story GG. I am sure your aunt's garden would be much better for the roses being pruned hard. When old roses get overgrown they are miraculously transformed by severe pruning! i have pondered overnight about your nickname but I am afraid I don't get it!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-36752157399644606512013-09-29T08:07:58.536+01:002013-09-29T08:07:58.536+01:00Living in an urban environment as I do always give...Living in an urban environment as I do always gives you an extra problem when you carry out pruning like you have described - how to get rid of the branches you have cut off. For this reason I normally pay someone to prune my trees, and the price includes disposal.Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-87226683450665729642013-09-28T21:37:56.600+01:002013-09-28T21:37:56.600+01:00My grandmother was an wonderful gardener and went ...My grandmother was an wonderful gardener and went to stay with my aunt when my uncle was away. Upon returning home, he called out for "his 2 favourite women", they asked him how he knew his mother was there.. his response was.. "the roses told me that the severe pruning company was here".. It is now my nickname 50 years later.GeeGee Parrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01568093090242601783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-19416750617439790072013-09-28T11:41:01.950+01:002013-09-28T11:41:01.950+01:00o.k Sue, I get the message!o.k Sue, I get the message!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-19216281876692491502013-09-28T11:31:30.175+01:002013-09-28T11:31:30.175+01:00Sounds like the sort of (hatchet job) pruning task...Sounds like the sort of (hatchet job) pruning task that Martyn indulges i.nSue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.com