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How to Prune Common chicory?
(Cichorium intybus)
Common chicory, also known as Wild succory, Blue dandelion
This perennial herb is known for its bright blue flowers and bitter-tasting roots used as a coffee substitute. Common chicory benefits from regular pruning to encourage a bushy growth habit and prevent self-seeding. Prune spent flower stems and remove wilted or dead foliage in spring or early summer. This conserves energy for robust growth and maintains an aesthetically pleasing shape. Pruning during these seasons also aligns with common chicory's growth cycle, enhancing overall health.
pruning

What Are the Benefits of Pruning Common Chicory?

What Is the Best Time for Pruning Common Chicory?

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What Tools Do I Need to Prune Common Chicory?

Bypass Hand Pruners
Ideal for making clean and precise cuts on common chicory's stems and smaller branches. Bypass pruners work like scissors, where a sharpened blade passes by a blunt counterblade, minimizing damage to the plant's tissue.
Garden Scissors
Common chicory's softer foliage and thinner stems can be easily trimmed with garden scissors, which allows for careful shaping and maintenance without crushing the plant tissues.
Pruning Saw
For older common chicory plants with thicker, woodier stems, a pruning saw may be necessary. This tool enables gardeners to cut through tougher material without harming the plant's structure.
Loppers
Sometimes common chicory can produce stems that are too thick for hand pruners but do not yet warrant a pruning saw. Loppers, with their long handles, provide the necessary leverage to make clean cuts on medium-sized branches.

How to Prune Common Chicory

Preparation
Before starting to prune common chicory, ensure you have clean, sharp pruning tools to prevent disease transmission and to make clean cuts that will heal more quickly.
Deadwood Removal
Carefully remove any deadwood from common chicory by cutting it back to live tissue, ensuring not to damage the healthy parts of the stems or roots.
Diseased Leaves Trimming
Identify and trim away diseased leaves from common chicory. Make sure to dispose of them properly to prevent the spread of disease.
Invasive Roots Control
Gently dig around the base of common chicory to expose any invasive roots. Cut these invasive roots with clean cuts to prevent unnecessary stress to the plant.
Post Pruning Care
After pruning common chicory, water the plant if the soil is dry and apply a layer of mulch around the base to aid in recovery and encourage healthy growth.
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Common Pruning Mistakes with Common Chicory

Over-Pruning
Removing too much foliage from common chicory at once can stress the plant and lead to weakened growth. Limit pruning to a reasonable portion of the plant's overall size.
Cutting Too Close
Cutting too close to the main stems or the crown of common chicory can cause damage to the central parts of the plant, which may impede growth or lead to disease.
Using Dull Tools
Pruning common chicory with dull tools can result in jagged cuts that are more susceptible to infection. Always use sharp and clean pruning tools for clean cuts.
Pruning In Wet Conditions
Pruning common chicory when it’s wet can spread diseases. Wait for dry weather to prune to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Ignoring Diseased Or Dead Sections
Neglecting to remove dead or diseased growth during pruning can allow problems to persist or worsen in common chicory.
Uneven Pruning
Pruning common chicory unevenly can result in a lopsided appearance and may affect the plant's balance and overall health.

Common Pruning Tips for Common Chicory

Selective Thinning
Remove select branches to improve air circulation and light penetration within the foliage of common chicory. This encourages healthier growth and reduces disease risk.
Timing For Flowering
Prune common chicory right after it finishes flowering to help shape the plant and encourage more blooms in the following season.
Cut At An Angle
Make angled cuts when pruning common chicory to prevent water from pooling on the cuts, which lowers the risk of rot.
Cleanliness
Sterilize pruning tools before moving from one plant to another to avoid spreading diseases among common chicory specimens.
Rejuvenation
Periodically perform rejuvenation pruning on older common chicory plants, cutting back severely to promote new growth and a fresh start.
Retain Structure
Maintain the natural shape of common chicory when pruning. Focus on removing only what is necessary to enhance the plant’s overall health and aesthetics.
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