Well, boys and girls, it’s that time again. It’s Harvest Season! 

All that hard work and time you’ve spent growing your marijuana plant(s) to tip-top shape is about to be complete.

It’s now time for the trimming process.

Trimming marijuana flowers allows for a better-looking bud, higher potency, smoother smoke, and can eliminate mold growth.

So, if you are ready to start the next step in your harvesting, this will serve as your guide to the basics of how to trim your marijuana.

The Importance of Trimming Your Cannabis

There are several reasons why you should trim your weed, but we’ll just tell you the biggest reasons why you should trim.

Appearance

To start, trimming allows your buds to look their best. Buds seen on our website, in dispensaries, magazines, etc. are always trimmed. This is probably how most of your weed looks.

Taste, aroma, and effects are the most important aspects of cannabis.

However, looks don’t fall far behind. After all, nothing feels as good as pulling pristine, manicured buds out of a stash jar. Trimming your flowers will transform them from rugged nugs into those worthy of a spot on the top shelf.

Aroma

Trimming allows for amazing aromas. Different strains offer a blend of unique terpenes which create the bud’s aroma.

Buds that are trimmed tend to gain a stronger/better smell and untrimmed buds tend to have a hay-like smell. 

Smoother Smoke

Trimming your marijuana majorly reduces the harshness you experience when smoking. Leaves and other plant material are much harsher on your lungs. Leaves contain more chlorophyll than buds. Chlorophyll when smoked has a more acidic feel in your throat. Trimming off the extra plant material makes your actual buds go down much smoother. 

THC Potency

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for. Trimming makes your weed stronger! Without sugar leaves, your trimmed buds will have higher potency levels of THC.

Wet vs Dry Trimming: Which Should You Choose?

When trimming your marijuana plants, there are two ways professionals do it. That’s either wet trimming (before the buds dry) or dry trimming (after the buds dry).

Wet Marijuana Trimming

When you wet trim your marijuana, it will be done all in one sitting.

You cut down the plant, cut buds off branches, trim the buds, and place the buds on a drying rack.

You should choose to wet trim if:

• You have high humidity (Not a worry in Colorado)

• You want your buds to dry faster

• If you are worried about mold

• If there are a lot of buds drying in a cramped area

Wet trimming is a sticky process. Trichomes will get on your fingers, shears, body, etc. If you wet trim, gloves are recommended. 

Dry Marijuana Trimming

When you dry trim your marijuana, you will cut down the plant and hang the whole batch to dry for several days.

When the buds are dry, you will cut buds off branches then trim those buds. 

You should choose to dry trim if:

• Mold isn’t a problem

• You want buds to dry slower

• You want your buds to be denser

Dry trimming is a lot less messy with the bud’s trichomes hardening as your weed dries. This will reduce mess though keep in mind the trichomes become much more fragile when dry. Handle with care.

Tools You Will Need For Trimming

Gloves

When trimming, gloves are your best friend.

Gloves keep the plant resin off your hands, keeping them from getting incredibly sticky.

The gloves will also keep your hand juices off the cannabis.

Scissors

You will definitely be using a pair of scissors. Any grower will tell you, “get a good pair”.

Fiskars scissors are a common standard in the industry. Fiskars scissors are good (for experience) because they are very sharp, thin, and spring open after each snip.

Containers

You will need 3 jars. These containers will help you differentiate trimmed, untrimmed, and various trim you want for later.

Tray (optional)

Trimming WILL make a mess. Some trays will prevent mess/spillage from getting all over your floor. This is also convenient if you plan on making something out of your trimmings.

Step By Step: How to Trim Marijuana

• Set up your weed-trimming area: Give yourself room. This would also be a good time to set up a movie, TV show, or music. Trimming can feel extremely tedious very quickly. You will absolutely want to be comfortable. You will be here for a while. Strap on your gloves and grab your shears.

• Cut a branch off your plant: Now that you’re all ready to go, cut a branch off your plant and lay it on your tray/table/surface.

• Trim fan leaves: Fan leaves are those large leaves that have five distinct points. Like a weed logo. Fan leaves can be pulled with your fingers or clipped. 

Note: Some choose to clip fan leaves after the curing process. This will slow down the drying process but will then produce more flavorful buds.

• Trim sugar leaves: The sugar leaves emerge from the buds themselves. Only their tips are typically visible. Use your scissors to cut these off.

• Leave to cure: For curing, store your finished buds in a container. You will want an airtight glass jar to preserve flavors and aromas. The curing process typically takes two weeks to a month.

So, now you may think that trimming your buds is an absolutely dreadful experience but to smoke those buds, we have got to trim. With proper trimming, a much bigger yield of smokable weed will be available to you.

Trimming is a skill you will only acquire through practice and more practice.

Hopefully, with this information, you will be able to harvest successfully.

Happy harvesting!