The short version
Anything tall, heavy or climbing needs support, and it needs it before it needs it. Pruning is the other half: removing growth to direct the plant's energy where you want it, which is not the same as tidying.
What you need
Canes, stakes or a frame
Sized for the plant's full height, not its height today.
Soft ties
Something that will not cut into a stem as it thickens. Check ties as the season goes on.
Clean, sharp secateurs
Blunt tools crush stems. Dirty tools move disease between plants.
How to do it
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Put supports in at planting time
The root plate is small then. Later, a stake goes through it.
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Tie loosely, in a figure of eight
The loop between stem and cane stops the tie rubbing the stem.
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Prune for a reason
Air movement, light, or directing energy. Removing growth without one of those reasons costs the plant and gains you nothing.
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Cut cleanly, just above a bud
A ragged cut heals slowly and lets disease in.
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Take out damaged and crossing growth first
That is usually most of what needed doing.
When it goes wrong
Stems snapping in wind
- Support
Support too short or tied too late. Match the support to the final height.
Ties cutting into the stem
- Ties
Check and loosen through the season. A tie that fitted in June strangles in August.
Disease spreading after pruning
- Tools
Clean the blades between plants, especially between anything in the same family.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to prune?
It depends on when the plant flowers and fruits. The general rule is prune after flowering for anything that flowers on last year's growth.
Can I prune too much?
Yes. As a rule of thumb, taking more than a third of the growth in one go stresses most plants.
