How and why to prune aromatic herbs in October to get the most beautiful and fragrant leaves
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himHow and why to prune aromatic herbs in October to get the most beautiful and fragrant leaves
What may seem a counterproductive operation, almost cruel towards a plant that has a luxuriant growth, actually translates into a very beneficial action towards it. Let's see in more detail why the pruning of aromatic herbs is optimal especially in this period. (Store rosemary and other herbs with this no-cost trick for having them all winter)
Index
When to prune
- The best time to prune aromatic plants is about two months before the arrival of night frosts.
- The best time of the day to make the cuts is undoubtedly in the morning, when the scent and flavor of the leaves is more intense thanks to the cooler air.
How to prune
For herbaceous plants it may be sufficient to cut with the fingernail. While for woody plants we will have to use a disinfected shears. In both cases we make a clean cut, because a jagged cut exposes the plant to possible infections. We eliminate all the inflorescences and all the dry leaves and dead branches. As far as herbaceous plants are concerned, we can eliminate up to two thirds of the plant. While for the woody ones, it is better not to exceed. Let's just clean them of dry foliage. The point of the cut does not really matter as we will not have to take cuttings.
Which plants should be pruned during this period?
As we just mentioned above, we make two basic distinctions:
- aromatic leafy or herbaceous plants: basil, mint, coriander, tarragon, chives;
- woody or evergreen aromatic plants: thyme, sage, rosemary.
As for the first variety of plants, these are grown essentially for the aromatic foliage, but they will tend to die after the first flowering. Therefore it is essential to remove the flowers or at most leave only a few to collect and store the seeds. Generally every plant when it blooms uses a lot of energy, this would be to the detriment of the leaves and their scent. So removing all the flowers will not only allow for even more fragrant foliage but will prolong the life of the plant itself.
As for the second variety of plants, the woody ones, on the other hand, the situation is different. They are evergreen, they are not annuals so they don't die after flowering. Pruning in these cases should not be too severe otherwise you risk weakening it too much. Generally, no more than a third of the plant is removed. Lavender is an exception as it tolerates pruning up to two thirds of its height.
The benefits of pruning
We have mentioned that for some varieties, pruning can even extend the life of the plant itself. Let's see in detail what benefits this operation brings:
- healthier plants: if the plant no longer has to concentrate its energies for flowering, it will mean that it will have it available to be stronger and more resistant in the face of parasitic attacks and will live healthier and longer;
- most beautiful plants: we have already said that we cultivate herbs for the quality of their foliage. Here, more resources of the plant will be concentrated right there. Therefore we will get more beautiful, more fragrant and tastier leaves;
- more ventilated ground: cleaning the area below from low branches, allows better air circulation. This is particularly important in winter because frost and humidity in general will dry out more quickly, avoiding mold and rot.
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