When and how to prune standard & shaped plants

     Pruning standard and shaped plants depend on the type of plant you are pruning and the eventual shape you.   For standard plants the process is fairly straightforward.    You will have to choose a plant with a straight stem to start with.   Stake the plant to a long stake.   remove some of the lower foliage and with a little pruning of lower limbs, let the plant grow to the height you want.   Now it is a process of shaping the head of the standard.    Begin by pruning the head of the standard in a round shape close to the stem.   Now let it grow out to a point where it requires more pruning to maintain the shape.  Let the head of the standard grow out to the size you want.   At this point you may like to use hedge trimmers to maintain the shape. 

 

   In regard to shaping plants into unusual shapes it is a case of using a wire cage.   These can be purchased from some nurseries.  The cage is shaped in the form you want.  The plant is grown within the cage.   When any foliage grows out of the cage it is simply pruned to the shape of the cage.  this is continued until the wire cannot be seen.  Once again hedge trimmers are used to maintain the shape. 

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