Three garden plants to prune ‘before Christmas’ or risk excessive ‘bleeding’

Pruning three plants too late in the year could trigger profuse bleeding and eventually lead to their death, experts have warned.

Bleeding is when sap leaks from a would or pruning cut on a tree, shrub or woody climber. Sometimes this may be a gentle seeping, other times a copious flow, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

Thus, the gardening institution recommends pruning acers, birches and vines before Christmas, as this is the time when bleeding is more likely to intensify.

For aesthetic purposes, gardening experts advise pruning away the branches that touch the ground – or are unsightly. 

Acers – commonly known as maple trees – can be pruned right after the end of fall – but pruning too late can lead to the development of cankers due to oozing sap. 

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If the maple tree starts oozing sap that is dark brown or black, this may be an indication that you have bleeding canker disease.

Vines are also particularly vulnerable to bleeding if pruned in mid to late winter, as the sap of the plant begins to rise earlier than other plants.

In the event of bleeding the oozing risks travelling down the canes and drowning vital buds along the vine.

As a rule of thumb, experts recommend cutting the wood at a slight angle to encourage water to run between the buds below.

The RHS explains that both edible and ornamental grape vines should be pruned “after leaf fall but before Christmas to be safe”.

The last plant to avoid pruning too late is birch trees, including the silver birch, a beloved garden tree across Britain.

If a birch tree develops an infection at the sight of the lesion, it may start spewing unsightly reddish-brown sap.

Trimming birch trees – cutting off any dead and overgrown branches – is crucial because it encourages new growth.

“Bleeding from pruning cuts can be unsightly but is usually not harmful and will naturally heal over time,” the RHS warns.

“In rare cases, prolonged bleeding may lead to loss of vigour and even death of the tree or shrub.

“We no longer recommend binding, wrapping or painting pruning cuts, the best thing is to let them heal naturally. Pruning at the correct time will minimise bleeding as well.”

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