Why do we prune plants

A. There are a number of different reasons why we go round the garden lopping bits off here and there.

There is the formative function, either to keep a plant within certain bounds or to encourage it to grow to a certain shape and the health function, cutting out diseased or weak growth that could undermine the plant.

However, the principal point of pruning is to promote fewer and stronger shoots and so better growth and, in many cases, more flowers.

A. Annuals don't need pruning. As their name suggests they only live for a season. Perennials often need dead growth cutting back and dividing, but this isn't really pruning. The term pruning is associated with shrubs, including climbers, and trees.

A. You'll need a good sharp set of secateurs for a start. Although you can get very cheap pairs these days they don't last long so it is probably worth your while in the long run investing at least a tenner in a decent pair.

A pair of long handled loppers, essentially large secateurs at the end of a long pair of handles, are invaluable for thicker and high up growth and if you are going to be pruning trees you will a narrow bladed pruning saw. And don't forget a decent pair of gardening gloves if you are dealing with thorny plants like roses.

A. Have a good look at the plant first. Any dead, diseased or spindly growth can be removed right away, cutting right back to healthy wood. If two braches are crossing, take the most awkwardly placed one out, again right back to the main stem.

A. There no hard and fast rules and there are pruning jobs in the garden throughout the year. Basically you need to find out if the plant in question flowers on the current year's growth, in which case they are generally pruned in spring, or last year's growth, in which they should be pruned immediately after flowering.

Shrubs grown for their winter colour such as dogwoods and willows should be pruned hard back to within a few inches of the ground in early spring.

A. Young trees generally only need pruning to develop their shape. When young, shoots that appear from the main branch that will become the trunk should be cut off straight away.

Deciduous trees are pruned in winter while they are dormant while evergreens rarely need anything but formative pruning, which is carried out in mid to late Spring.