Pinching is also useful for disbudding flowers and thinning fruit. Do's Always prune away dead, broken and diseased portions of a plant at any time. In general, prune weak plants hard and vigorous plants lightly. For safety and ease of pruning, use the correct tool for the job. Keep your tools sharp and clean.
Clean cuts heal quicker.
Make a cut only with a good reason and with an understanding of what your cut will produce. Always use proper safety equipment when pruning. Don'ts Don't leave ragged cuts or stubs. Don't use hedge shears for general pruning. Don't prune with sprung, dull or improper tools.