Okay, guys, today I want to talk about pruning my citronella plant. It was getting a bit out of control, so I decided it was time for a little haircut.
First, I got my tools ready. I grabbed my trusty pruning shears and made sure they were clean and sharp. I don’t want to damage my plant with dull blades, you know? I also put on some gloves because citronella can be a bit irritating to the skin.
I started by looking over the plant, trying to figure out which parts needed to go. It was pretty overgrown, with stems going in all directions. I wanted to give it a more compact shape, so I started with the longest stems.
- I carefully cut back the longest stems, going back to a point where there was a set of leaves. I read somewhere that you should always cut just above a leaf node.
- I also removed any dead or yellowing leaves. They were just taking up space and not looking very pretty.
- As I worked my way around the plant, I kept stepping back to check the overall shape. I didn’t want to get too carried away and end up with a lopsided plant.
After I had trimmed back the longest stems, I started working on the inner parts of the plant. I thinned out some of the denser areas to let in more light and air. This is supposed to help prevent diseases and pests.
The Final Touches
Once I was happy with the overall shape, I gave the plant a good watering. I figured it deserved a nice drink after all that work. I also added some fresh soil to the pot to give it a little boost. It was looking a little bare.
Now, my citronella plant looks much neater and healthier. It’s still a good size, but it’s not taking over the whole patio anymore. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I think I’ll be doing this again next year!
