pruning: where old wisdom meets new plant care

Every time I pick up my pruning shears, I’m reminded of my grandmother’s garden—her hands steady, her eyes sharp, never missing a single yellowing leaf. Back then, pruning was more than a chore; it was a ritual, a way to nurture life and pass on quiet lessons about patience and renewal. But these days, I see my daughter scrolling through apps, learning about self-watering pots and digital reminders to prune, and I wonder: are we losing something, or just changing? Here in North America, our climate throws curveballs—one week, a frost warning; the next, a heatwave. The old ways said, “Prune in spring, always.” Now, with unpredictable weather, some swear by year-round check-ins, snipping dead leaves whenever they appear. My neighbor insists on letting her plants grow wild for the sake of the bees, while our HOA wants tidy hedges and trimmed branches. Who’s right? Is it about aesthetics, or is it about letting nature take its course? I still clean my shears with rubbing alcohol, just like my mother taught me, but my son prefers bleach wipes—faster, he says. We argue over how much to cut: I never take more than a quarter of a plant, remembering the old American landscaping rule, but he’s bolder, shaping his pothos into living sculptures. Sometimes his cuttings fail, and he laughs it off, but I remember the sting of a lost rosebush, the disappointment lingering like a cold snap. Pruning is about more than plant health. It’s about shaping memories, healing after loss, and sometimes, it’s about clashing with the rules—community guidelines versus personal freedom. Should we really care if a neighbor’s hydrangea spills over the fence, or is that just the garden’s way of reaching out? As summer approaches, I urge you: look at your plants, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. Prune not just for beauty, but for resilience. And if you disagree with your family or your community about how much to cut, maybe that’s the point—gardening, like life, is richer for its debates and differences. #pruningdebate #gardenmemories #plantcare #Gardening