Garden Tips & Inspiration

Everything about garden design, planting and maintenance

Plant Encyclopedia

Explore 4000+ detailed plant guides with care tips, pruning calendar and winter hardiness.

Raspberry bush with red fruit and visible young suckers around the base

Raspberry suckers everywhere in garden: control and prevention

Raspberries growing everywhere you don't want? Those are suckers. Learn how to remove them and keep your raspberry patch neat.

8 min

Winter fruit tree without leaves showing clear branch structure

Planting

When exactly to prune fruit trees in January: timing and techniques

January pruning determines your harvest. Learn the exact week in January, cultivar-specific schedules and step-by-step pruning techniques.

8 min

Fruit tree in spring with blossoms and green leaves, healthy

Planting

Fruit tree pruning without a pro: practical basic steps

Nervous about fruit tree pruning? This guide teaches you how to prune apples, pears, plums and cherries yourself without a pro.

8 min

Young cherry tree in early years with soft spreading branches

Planting

How to prune a young cherry tree: forming years 1-4

Pruning young cherries differs from apples. Learn to build a strong structure without bacterial canker risk using right timing.

8 min

Morel sour cherry tree laden with red fruit on young shoots

Planting

How to prune a sour cherry (Morel): on one-year-old wood for more fruit

Sour cherries fruit on young shoots. Learn how to prune Morel trees for maximum harvest via one-year-old wood strategy.

8 min

Pear tree with rusty brown leaf spots, pruning shears in hand

Planting

How to prune pear trees against pear rust?

Pruning techniques to control pear rust (Gymnosporangium). Learn to form an open crown and remove affected branches.

8 min

Victoria plum tree with red fruit, pruning shears in hand

Planting

How to prune Victoria plum trees?

Pruning guide for Victoria plums. Forming, timing and maintenance pruning for this popular self-fertile plum variety.

8 min

Pyramidal spindle apple with compact side branches and dominant central leader

Planting

Spindle apple pruning: central leader form step-by-step

Guide to pruning spindle-form apple trees. Keep side branches short, maintain pyramidal shape, and balance growth perfectly.

8 min

Young fruit tree with clear central leader shoot and side branches

Planting

Central leader fruit tree training: grow strong productive trees

The central leader system is the most common fruit tree training method. Build a strong central stem with balanced side branches for maximum yield.

8 min

Fruit tree with modified leader form - central trunk with three low-placed limbs

Planting

Modified leader: strong fruit trees with elegant form

The modified leader system combines benefits of central leader and open vase. A central trunk with three primary limbs at low height for optimal light and harvest.

8 min

Fruit tree with open vase-like form - three equal primary arms

Planting

Goblet training: grow beautiful symmetrical fruit trees

The goblet or open-vase system creates symmetrical, balanced fruit trees. Perfect form for apples, pears, and apricots with regular maintenance.

8 min

Fruit tree in winter with pruning shears ready for maintenance

Seasonal Tips

Fruit tree pruning in January: timing and technique

January is the ideal season for fruit tree pruning. Learn proper timing, pruning steps, and specific rules for each fruit type.

8 min