When is the best time of year to prune plants?
This will depend on the plant. Most get pruned during dormancy, though. This will be different times depending on the exact plant in question.
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Normally just prune enough to shape the shrub or to remove the spent blooms. Also remove any dead or damaged limbs to the ground.
If some time has elapsed after flowering and the plant blooms on new wood, look for developing buds and be sure not to go any further.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/pruning-old-and-new-wood.htm
Here are tips on rejuvenation pruning:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/rejuvenation-pruning-tips.htm
I'm sorry but we need to know the name of the plant. Pruning depends on the type of plant, when it blooms and how it has been pruned in the past. If you can post a picture, we might be able to answer all three points.
I have a beautiful outside plant that has allot of dead growth from our rainy fall & winter , new blossoms are already starting to show but over shadowed by dead stuff.
If your scissors are capable of cutting the intended plant, then sure! Just make sure to clean them with alcohol, or soapy water well before doing so. You wouldn't want to introduce anything that would kill your plant.
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/pruning-garden-plants.htm
Hello! I have a ground cover that I’m not sure what to do with. There are parts of the ground cover that have green growth and flowers but then there are parts of it where it looks dead. And the green growth is at the end of parts that look dead. Do I need to trim all the dead looking parts even though there is growth at the ends? Or just leave it be? I included some pictures. Thanks!
I would, first, recommend fertilizing with an all purpose at half strength. If it does not respond to the treatment within 2 weeks or so, then you may consider cutting it back. Only trim a small amount to see how the plant will handle it, first.
The dead flowers are still there but see new ones coming beside them; is it necessary to do this?
Yes, cut the flowers off of King Protea including some of the stem, but avoiding the new flower buds. Do not prune stems that don't have flowers because they will be next year's blooms.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/protea/protea-plant-care-tips.htm
Gerbera Daisies new, Neil Sperry doesn't have it in his book edition.
These articles should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/deadheading-flowers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm
I read that I should cut the flower stalks off the plant when they died but leave the leaves on but one plants leaves are so long they fell over so don't know what to do with it.also was told just to leave dormant plants in a sunny window water and set outside in the spring to bloom.thought bulbs had to go dormant.thanks for any help you can give me
If you mean spring-blooming bulbs, their foliage needs to die back gradually so they can nourish the bulb for next year. Same is true for lily bulbs. Cut off the dead flower stalk but let the foliage die back naturally. Then in the fall the brown foliage can be removed. Then if your bulbs are not hardy in your area, they need to be dug up and stored in a cool but below freezing place for winter.
Here is more information on dormancy.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/when-do-plants-wake-up.htm