Pruning, Part 3, plus Poppies

Hello everyone!  The final word on prunig comes from Phil, who will tell us when to prune:

Phil Says: Plants should generally be pruned in the winter or the spring.  There are advantages to pruning in the winter, and advantages to pruning in the spring.  Pruning in the winter is great because you can actually see the branches that you are trying to prune, since there are no leaves on the trees or bushes!  You also aren't going to disturb any nesting birds, if that might be an issue.  Finally, trees are less prone to catch diseases in the new cuts you create, since pathogens aren't out in the winter.

Pruning in the spring, however, is nice because it promotes new growth from the plant, since plants in spring are in "grow mode."  Pruning in the winter will not encourage the plant to put on any new growth.  However, if you prune too late in the year, the new growth the plant puts on won't have time to harden before winter hits, and the cold could kill all the new growth.


Finally, the poppies are in bloom!  Here are the poppies of the Plantations:

Actually, this is a geranium.  Not a poppy.