5 Top Tools and Tips for Winter Pruning

 

Regular pruning promotes better health and encourages new growth in plants and trees, as well as helping maintain their structure. And generally speaking, winter pruning is best for most deciduous species.

Why Prune Deciduous Plants and Trees in Winter?

Because deciduous plants and trees are dormant at this time of year, they suffer less stress from the pruning process and make a quicker recovery.

Winter pruning also offers you a couple of additional practical benefits. Firstly, the absence of foliage helps determine the best parts of the plant to prune, as you are better able to spot the crossing stems, diseased areas, and dead stems or wood. Secondly, the colder weather means fewer garden pests, which reduces the risk of diseases entering the plant’s open cuts.

These are the reasons why it is so beneficial pruning deciduous plants and cutting back trees in winter.

Different Pruning Tools (and Tips for Winter Pruning)

We’re now going to take a look at five different types of tool you can use for winter pruning, and highlight some of our bestselling models. Along the way, we’ll also offer you quick tips on winter pruning, relating to some of the nation’s favourite trees and plants.

So, if you want to find out about pruning back roses for winter, how to prune hydrangeas for winter, and trimming trees in the winter, please read on…

Secateurs

There are two main types of secateurs: bypass and anvil.

Bypass secateurs consist of two sharp blades, which slide past each other to make an exceptionally precise cut. The most common and versatile type of secateurs, they are the ideal pruning tool to use on soft, green stems, less than 2 cm thick.

Anvil Secateurs are designed with one sharp blade and a flat metal plate, which supports the stem as the blade cuts through it. Being more powerful but less precise than bypass models, they are best suited to dead or woody stems.

Wolf-Garten Professional Bypass Secateurs (25 mm)

Made from aluminium, with ergonomically designed handles, including a thumb rest, these bypass secateurs are robust, durable and comfortable to use. They are capable of cutting through stems up to 2.5 cm in diameter.

These premium secateurs’ other key features include ultra-sharp blades with a non-stick coating, as well as integrated spring and locking mechanisms. They are a great tool to use if you’re cutting back a rose bush for winter.

Find out more about the Wolf-Garten Professional Bypass Secateurs (25 mm) here.

Pruning Roses for Winter

Apart from rambling roses, which are best left until late summer, you should cut back rose bushes for winter. Remove dead, damaged or diseased shoots, and open up the centre of the plant to improve air circulation. This will reduce the risk of your roses developing fungal disease.

Pruning Shears

Shears are extremely versatile garden tools, consisting of two sharp blades used to cut through a wide range of stems and thinner branches.

As well as general purpose garden shears, there are those designed for specific tasks, such as hedge shears, edging shears and topiary shears.

STIHL HSA 26 Cordless Shrub Shears (Kit)

Including a 20 cm hedge cutter attachment, 12 cm lawn edger attachment, AS 2 battery, AL 1 battery charger and practical storage bag, this shrub shears kit is a wonderful acquisition for any keen gardener.

An ergonomic, non-slip handle makes the shears extremely comfortable to use, while the double-sided, teardrop-shaped cutting blades are expertly engineered to optimise performance. The STIHL HSA 26 is a great tool to own if you want to cut back hydrangea for winter.

Discover more about the STIHL HSA 26 Cordless Shrub Shears (Kit) now.

Pruning Hydrangeas for Winter

As the dried flower heads provide the new buds with protection from the weather, hydrangea pruning in winter is best carried out towards the end of the season. This should ensure the new buds aren’t overly exposed to extended bouts of frost.

Loppers

Just like secateurs, loppers come in both bypass and anvil designs. However, they are a larger, more powerful pruning tool, capable of cutting stems and branches with a diameter of up to 5 cm.

Loppers’ long handles not only give them the leverage to cut thicker stems and branches, they also make it easier to access hard-to-reach areas of a plant.

Wolf-Garten Telescopic Bypass Loppers (50 mm)

The length of these telescopic loppers can be adjusted between 65 and 90 cm, helping you access all parts of your plants and shrubs.

Made in Germany and backed by a superb 10-year guarantee, these premium bypass loppers boast leading-edge cutting head technology, which is sure to make short work of pruning branches up to 5 cm in diameter. They are a fantastic tool to use to cut back rose bushes for winter.

Learn more about the Wolf-Garten Telescopic Bypass Loppers (50 mm) here.

How to Prune Geraniums for Winter

Hardy geraniums should be heavily pruned twice a year: once in summer, and again in late autumn or just before spring.

For those that remain in borders or containers throughout the winter months, cut them back close to ground level.

Pruning Saws

Pruning saws are the ideal tool for branches thicker than 5 cm. They feature serrated blades, which cut on the pull stroke for increased accuracy. These pruning tools are available in a range of designs, encompassing folding, straight and curved blade models.

Folding pruning saws are obviously the handiest to carry when you’re pottering around the garden. Of the other two types, straight bladed models are best suited to pruning living material, while curved blades are ideal for cutting through dead wood.

STIHL GTA 26 Cordless Garden Pruner

This battery-powered pruning saw features a ¼-inch Pico Micro 3 saw chain, which delivers outstanding cutting performance, while the rubberised grip ensures the tool is exceptionally comfortable to use.

This cordless pruner also comes with an LED charge-level indicator, so you can stay abreast of the battery’s remaining power and avoid unplanned stoppages to your work.

Buy the STIHL GTA 26 Cordless Garden Pruner now.

Pruning Apple Trees in Winter

Apple trees hugely benefit from late-winter pruning because it ensures that the tree’s energy is purely focused on the most productive branches. Pruning trees in winter also increases sunlight exposure and airflow within the tree’s canopy, reducing the risk of fungal diseases developing and ensuring a more abundant supply of healthy apples.

Pole Pruners

These long-reach pruners allow you to access hard-to-reach branches without using a ladder, which is particularly useful in winter when conditions underfoot can be hazardous.

Some pole pruners feature secateur-type blades, others a pruning saw attachment, and many both, so you’re sure to find the ideal tool to match your own winter pruning requirements.

Husqvarna 120iTK4-P Cordless Pole Pruner

Designed for use with a hedge trimmer or pruning saw attachment, this cordless pole pruner extends up to 4 metres, so is a great acquisition if you’re trimming trees in winter.

Weighing just 4.1 kg (excluding cutting attachments), this telescopic pruner comes with a range of user-friendly features, including a foldable pole for easy transportation and storage.

Discover more about the Husqvarna 120iTK4-P Cordless Pole Pruner here.

Prune Wisteria in Winter

In winter, prune wisteria back by two to three buds, tying in the growth that you want to train. Remove the parts of the plant that don’t fit in with the desired shape, including those that are growing around guttering and cables. (This is because wisteria is strong enough to eventually prize them away from the building’s walls.)

Our Fabulous Range of Pruning Tools for Sale

You can view our full range of secateurs, shears, loppers and pruning saws within the Hand Tools category of our website. This includes subcategories devoted to Pruning Saws and Secateurs & Pruning Shears.

If you’re pruning a tree in winter, be sure to also visit our dedicated Pole Pruners category, where you’ll find both cordless and petrol pole pruners for sale.

And should you have questions about any of these garden tools, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, UK-based Garden Machinery Experts, who will be delighted to assist you, in any way they can.