Incorrect Pruning: How Poor Pruning Techniques Can Weaken Plants and Reduce Yields

Pruning is one of those tasks that sounds straightforward, snip a bit here, tidy a bit there but when done wrong, it can quietly sabotage your garden. Whether it’s a tomato, a fruit bush, or a vigorous courgette plant, poor pruning techniques can stress your plants, invite disease, and dramatically reduce yields.So, let’s break down what not to do, and more importantly, how to prune for strength, productivity, and plant happiness.

Why Pruning Matters

Pruning isn’t just about keeping things neat. It’s about managing energy. When done correctly, it directs the plant’s resources toward strong growth and productive fruiting. But when done poorly, cutting too much, cutting at the wrong time, or damaging stems, plants respond with stress. That stress often shows up as fewer flowers, weak fruit, or an open invite to pests and disease.

Common Pruning Mistakes

Let’s get honest about the classic missteps many of us make (especially in our early growing days):

Over-pruning

Going in with too much enthusiasm and removing large amounts of foliage in one go can shock the plant.

Cutting at the Wrong Time

Some crops prefer a spring prune, others respond better to late summer. Prune at the wrong time and you might remove next year’s fruiting wood or force a flush of growth right before frost.

Leaving Ragged Cuts or Stubs

A rough or torn cut can’t heal cleanly. It becomes an entry point for bacteria, fungal spores, and pests.

Topping or “Lollipopping” Plants

Removing the growing tip of a plant like tomato or courgette without a plan can halt vertical growth and reduce yield potential.

Pruning by Plant: Doing It Right

Tomatoes

Indeterminate varieties love structure. Remove side shoots (those sneaky suckers between leaf and stem) regularly to focus energy into the main stem and fruit.

• Use clean, sharp snips.
• Pinch suckers when small.
• Remove lower leaves once fruit sets to reduce disease.

Herbs like basil or coriander

Don’t wait too long! Regular snipping encourages bushier, more productive growth. Always cut just above a node (leaf joint).

• Harvest early and often.
• Avoid cutting into woody stems.

Fruit Bushes (e.g. currants, raspberries)

Know your variety! Summer- and autumn-fruiting raspberries need different pruning strategies. With blackcurrants, remove old wood to make space for new shoots.

• Always remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches.
• Prune back to strong outward-facing buds.

Cucumbers and Courgettes

Too much pruning here can reduce shade and lead to sunburnt fruit. Focus on gently thinning leaves if airflow is poor.

• Remove only what’s necessary.
• Maintain good ventilation around the base.

General Tips for Better Pruning

• Use sharp, clean tools – Dirty or dull blades spread disease and damage tissue.
• Prune on dry days – Reduces the chance of moisture-loving fungi taking hold.
• Know your plant – Take a few minutes to understand how and when it sets fruit.
• Don’t rush – Step back between cuts and check the plant’s shape and balance.

Incorrect pruning isn’t just a missed opportunity, it actively works against your plants. But the good news? With a little knowledge and a light touch, pruning becomes a powerful tool for encouraging strong, healthy growth and better yields.