From my perspective as a Grevillea, timing is everything. Please prune me after my main flowering flush has finished. This is because I set my next season's flower buds on the new growth that emerges after a prune. If you cut me back too late in the season, you will be removing those precious embryonic buds, and I will not be able to show off my beautiful blooms for you. My energy is highest when I'm actively growing, typically in the warmer months following a bloom. Pruning me at this time allows me to quickly heal my wounds and push out vigorous, healthy new growth, which makes me look lush and dense.
When you approach me with secateurs, please ensure they are sharp and clean. A ragged, crushed cut from dull blades is an open invitation for pests and disease to enter my system. Always make your cuts just above a set of healthy leaves or a leaf node—this is where my latent growth buds are waiting. Angle your cut away from the bud so that water runs off and doesn't settle on it, which could cause rot. I don't appreciate being hacked back to old, bare wood as I often cannot resprout from these leafless limbs. Instead, focus on trimming the newer, greener growth to encourage my beautiful, natural form.
Your goal should be to enhance my natural shape, not fight against it. Look at my structure and prune to maintain a balanced, open form. This is crucial for my health. An open canopy allows sunlight and air to penetrate my interior, which helps my inner leaves perform photosynthesis and reduces the humid, stagnant conditions where fungal diseases thrive. Remove any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as these abrasions create wounds. Also, selectively prune longer limbs back to a side shoot to encourage bushiness and prevent me from becoming leggy.
The most beneficial thing you can do for my health is to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood. These parts are a drain on my resources. Deadwood saps my energy as I try in vain to repair it, while diseased material can spread infection throughout my system. By cutting these sections out completely and disposing of them away from me and my plant companions, you free up my energy to devote to producing strong new growth and spectacular flowers. This is a non-negotiable part of my care routine.
When you prune me correctly, my response is immediate and positive. The removal of the flower-laden tips and unwanted growth signals me to redirect my stored energy. I will activate the growth buds just below your cuts, resulting in a flush of new stems and leaves. This makes me denser and more shapely. This process effectively rejuvenates me, preventing me from becoming woody and sparse. A good prune is like a refreshing reset, allowing me to thrive and prepare for my next spectacular floral display.
