Heathers are popular and easy to care for.Unless they are trimmed, heathers will grow from their old, withered stems.You can have beautiful flowers throughout the year if you use the right tools and shape the plant.
Step 1: After the last frost, Prune in the early spring.
It is recommended to keep past blooms attached throughout the winter to protect the roots.The stems of your heathers should not be damaged by frost.If you live in a warm climate, summer blooms can be trimmed in the fall.Summer blooms are being cut before they start to grow, while winter heathers are cut after they have bloomed.If you live in the US, you can use your ZIP code to estimate the last expected frost date.
Step 2: Hand shears can be used for smaller heathers.
It is easier to use shears that have a spring in them.If you want to have more control over which blooms you cut, hold the bloom with your non-dominant hand and make a cut with hand shears.Before you use your shears, make sure they are sharp.
Step 3: Hedge shears are used to shape large beds of Heather.
The long-handled shears work best.The easiest way to control the hedges is by holding the shears near the end of the handle.To make a snapping noise with each cut, open and close the shears.There are garden and home care stores that sell hedge shears.While you use the hedge shears, wear gardening gloves.
Step 4: Rub alcohol on your shears before and after the plant.
Rub your shears with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean them.If you repeat this process before and after each plant, it will prevent the spread of diseases.Water and chlorine bleach can be used to make a cleaning solution.Before using the shears, they should be soaked for 30 minutes.It is good to clean your gardening tools because Heathers are resistant to most plant diseases.
Step 5: Old blooms are no longer withered and yellow.
The old blooms are attached to the green stems at the top and edges of the plant.New blooms have room to grow if your plant is brown or yellow.
Step 6: Cut 1 inch below the old bloom stalks.
On top of green stems, the old blooms will look dry and withered.Hold the end of the dead bloom with one hand and use your shears to make a cut to reduce the risk of disease.One-third of the plant can be removed this way.If water is able to run off the end of the stem, you don't have to be precise with the angle you cut.A bald spot in the middle of your plant can be prevented with annualPruning.
Step 7: If you cut into the area of your heathers, it will not grow back.
Cut the green stems of your plant.The blooms won't grow from the stem if you cut too far down.New blooms will not form if your plant has a bald spot.If you want the plant to bloom, replace the entire plant.
Step 8: Lift the tops of the plant to trim the undergrowth.
Lift up the top of the plant with one hand, then cut the stems with the other.Plants that grow too close to each other may harm your plant.If you don't want the heather to grow in a certain direction, you can cut the parts of the plant that are growing in that direction.