Pruning can be a useful way to encourage growth in plants by getting rid of dead branches or stems.
However, its effectiveness does depend on the plant and what time of year you actually prune them.
A number of experts have warned gardeners to avoid pruning one plant due to how it could kill it off.
What plant should you never prune during the winter?
It is advised to never prune stone fruit trees in the winter, which can include the likes of plum, apricot, cherry and peach.
Chris Taylor, of Chris Taylor Gardening, explained that the act of pruning at this time of year could leave it vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infection.
He shared: “With over 20 years of experience working with fruit trees, I advise against pruning plum, cherry and other stone fruit trees in winter because their biological defence systems are effectively switched off during dormancy.
“At this time of year the trees cannot rapidly compartmentalise wounds or produce protective callus tissue, leaving exposed wood vulnerable to airborne fungal spores such as silver leaf, which spread most readily in cool, wet conditions.
Cherry trees are among the stone fruit trees you should never prune in the winter (Image: Getty Images)
“Pruning during late spring or summer, when sap flow and cellular activity are high, allows cuts to seal quickly and dramatically reduces the risk of infection.”
Luke Newnes, a gardening expert at Hillarys, concurred on this advice, saying: “I always tell people to avoid pruning them in winter because they simply can’t heal at this time of year.
“The tree is dormant, sap flow is low, and any cut you make is effectively left open like a wound that can’t close.
“The big risk is that those unhealed cuts become gateways for fungal infections, especially silver leaf disease, which is notorious in plums and cherries.
“Once silver leaf gets in, it’s incredibly difficult to manage and can affect the entire tree over time. I’ve seen healthy trees decline surprisingly fast after poorly timed winter pruning.”
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In comparison, apple and pear trees are fine to prune during the season, and it is actually recommended during the first two months of the year.
Discussing the difference, Luke wrote: “I know winter pruning feels intuitive for many gardeners because it’s the right approach for apples and pears, but stone fruit really do need a different timetable.
“Waiting for the warmer months massively reduces the risk of disease and gives the tree the best chance to recover and grow well into the season.”
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