RHS Pruning and Training: What, When & How to Prune Plants by Christopher Brickell - Non Fiction - Hardcover

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780241662076
Publisher: DK

Overview
RHS Pruning and Training is the definitive practical guide for gardeners who want to prune with confidence rather than guesswork. Backed by the expertise of the Royal Horticultural Society, this comprehensive hardcover reference walks readers through the correct timing and technique for pruning over 800 trees, shrubs, roses, fruit bushes, and climbing plants. Clear step-by-step artwork and photography demystify everything from simple deadheading to complex renovation pruning, making this an essential addition to any home gardener's shelf.

About the Book
Written under the guidance of Christopher Brickell, former Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society, RHS Pruning and Training distills decades of horticultural expertise into one authoritative, easy-to-follow volume. The book is organized so that gardeners of any experience level can quickly find the plant they need to prune and see exactly what to do and when to do it. Each entry combines clear, sequential photography with detailed line artwork, showing precisely where to cut and how a plant will respond over time. Beyond individual plant profiles, the book opens with foundational chapters on pruning principles, tool selection and care, and the biology behind why pruning encourages healthier growth, stronger flowering, and better fruiting. Special sections address training techniques for climbers and wall-trained fruit trees, formative pruning for young trees and shrubs, and renovation pruning for overgrown or neglected specimens. Roses receive particularly thorough treatment, with dedicated guidance for hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, and old garden varieties. The 336-page hardcover format is built to withstand years of use as a potting-shed reference, with a sturdy binding that lies flat for easy consultation while working in the garden. Whether the goal is shaping a formal hedge, rejuvenating a tired apple tree, or simply keeping a small urban garden tidy, this guide provides the confidence to pick up the secateurs and prune correctly the first time. It is a worthy successor to earlier RHS pruning titles, fully updated with current best practice and expanded plant coverage.

Key Benefits

• Covers pruning and training techniques for over 800 individual plants
• Written with the authority of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Clear step-by-step photography and artwork for every technique
• Includes dedicated sections on tools, timing, and renovation pruning
• Sturdy 336-page hardcover built for repeated potting-shed use
• Makes an excellent gift for gardening enthusiasts and new homeowners

About the Author
Christopher Brickell is a distinguished horticulturist and former Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society. He was awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 1976 for his services to horticulture, followed by the CBE in 1991. Brickell has served as editor-in-chief of several major DK gardening references, including the RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening and the RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, and has long been regarded as one of Britain's foremost authorities on plant nomenclature and cultivation.

Why You'll Love This Book
Practical, authoritative, and beautifully illustrated, this guide takes the guesswork out of pruning season after season. It's a thoughtful gift for a gardening-obsessed parent, a new homeowner tackling an overgrown yard, or anyone building a well-rounded gardening library ahead of spring.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.