About Green Snip

Green Snip is a pruning guide for home gardeners. We write about one job only: cutting plants back so they grow healthier, flower better and fruit more.

Who it’s for

People with a few shrubs along the fence, a rose bed they inherited, or a young apple tree they’re nervous about touching. You don’t need a big garden or special training. You need to know when to cut, where to cut and when to leave things alone.

How we write

• Timing first, because a perfect cut in the wrong month can cost you a year of flowers.
• One plant group per section, so you can find your answer fast.
• Plain names for cuts and tools, explained once.
• Caution where it matters: big limbs, ladders and power tools near overhead lines are jobs for a professional.

What we believe

Less is usually more. Most plants forgive a light prune and resent a heavy one. Good tools make good cuts. And watching how a plant responds teaches you more than any rule.

Start with the pruning guide or browse the pruning questions.