I’ve been growing basil for over ten years and still learn new things every year. Even with all my experience, I’ve made some mistakes that have cost me time and money. The good news is that you can avoid these same mistakes by learning to prune basil properly!
Step 1: What You Need to Know About Pruning
Before pruning your basil plant, you should know a few things:
Basil is an annual in the north and a perennial in warmer climates. In other words, it will only grow for one year in colder areas. But you can plant it yearly if you provide it with enough water, sunlight, and nutrients.
Pruning basil can help keep your plants healthy and productive. When pruning, make sure you cut at least one-third of each stem. Remove dead or damaged stems from the plant so food production isn’t hindered.
Step 2: Are Your Plants Ready for Pruning?
You can prune basil any time you like, but it’s best to do so when the plant is at least four months old. If your plants are younger, wait a bit longer before pruning them for the first time.
Basil plants are ready for pruning in the spring. You can prune them after they’ve been through at least one winter and all danger of frost. You can also prune them at any time of year. Ensure your basil is healthy before cutting anything off! Remember that you might need to water more regularly if there’s no rain.
Step 3: Keeping it Clean
After pruning, it’s important to keep basil clean. If you don’t, mold can grow on the leaves and cause them to fall off. To prevent this, wipe off any dirt or dust with a damp cloth. Please do not use chemicals like soap or detergent. These can leave behind residue that can harm your plants and other herbs.
Use only water when cleaning your basil plant, so no chemicals are left behind. Never use bleach either; remember that bleach kills everything in its path!
Step 4: Choosing Where to Make the Cut
Once you’ve found a good spot to make your cut, it’s time to take action.
Cut at a 45-degree angle above a bud or stem node to ensure your basil continues growing strong. It’s a place where leaves grow out of the stem. While doing this, you want to remove as little of the basil plant as possible. The more you remove, the smaller its growth potential becomes.
If any brown or yellow leaves are on your way that are keeping the moisture, snip them off with scissors! Also crucial to cut only a short distance to the base. Please leave at least 2 inches of stem on each branch so they can continue growing new shoots.
Similarly, if any dead or dying stems are present, use them up by chopping them away. Chop them from their base and add them into compost piles or soil mixes. It’ll be beneficial for other plants instead of wasting good food!
Step 5: Let’s Get Snipping!
- If you’re using a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, cut each stem about 1/4 inch from the tip.
- If you have a dull pair of scissors and pruning shears, remove an extra 1/2 inch from each stem before making your cut. Do this to avoid damaging your tool with poor technique.
- Next, snip off dead or brown leaves attached to your plant’s branches. You want these removed because they can attract pests and reduce the nutrients available for growth in healthier leaves and stems (this also means fewer nutrients for us!)
- Finally—look at how much space is between each branch coming out of one main stem (aka “branching”). Some plants produce many more branches than others. Some growers prefer four branches for every three leaves, others like eight branches per seven. It’s trial and error to choose which branches to keep and which go first. So don’t worry too much about these decisions now!
Step 6: Maintain Your Basil Plants
- Maintain the soil’s moisture by watering regularly, especially during hot weather. Water the plants when the soil becomes dry to ensure that your basil plants don’t lose their flavor and aroma. Then cover the leaves with mulch to keep moisture.
- Keep your basil plants in a sunny spot, but not directly under direct sunlight, or they may wither. If you don’t have a lot of sun in your garden space, you can use grow lights or move them indoors for the winter months.
- Fertilize once per month during active growth periods (spring through fall). Use liquid plant food diluted at one-quarter strength. Make sure to follow package instructions for proper application.
Making the most out of your Basil Plants
Growing basil is very easy, but pruning it can be trickier. To make the most of your plant, you should learn how to prune basil.
You’ll get more herbs from your plants by cutting off leaves at the bottom of each stem. That would keep them growing outwards instead of getting all bushy and dense.
When you prune your basil, you can use them in recipes—like pesto or as an ingredient in salad dressing. You can also make them as garnishes for drinks like lemonade!
Conclusion
Remember, it takes time for basil to grow and mature, so be patient with your plants. You can also try repotting them into larger containers if they seem too crowded.
