How to trim your cannabis

Adam Parsons

Cannabis Journalist & Staff Writer at Zamnesia

Adam Parsons

Last updated: 28 August 2025

Now that you've finished harvesting your cannabis plant, it's time to move on to the next essential step: trimming.

Trimming your cannabis isn't just about making your buds look good. Proper trimming plays a huge role in improving the overall quality, potency, and smoothness of your final product. Whether you're aiming for maximum flavour, a cleaner burn, or longer-lasting storage, your trimming method can make a big difference.

Wet trim vs dry trim: Which is better?

When it comes to trimming cannabis, there are two main techniques: wet trimming and dry trimming. Each has its strengths, and the choice largely depends on your growing environment, experience level, and personal preference.

There's no single “best” way to trim. Instead, it's about finding the method that fits your workflow and goals. Below, we break down the pros of each trimming style to help you make the right choice to suit your needs.

Wet trimming

Definition: Trimming cannabis buds immediately after harvest, while the plant is still fresh and moist.

• Easier to handle sugar leaves; they stay upright and visible
• Reduces drying time by removing excess plant matter early
• Less moisture retained; lower risk of mould during drying
• Best for: Beginners

Dry trimming

Definition: Trimming cannabis buds after the drying process, when the plant material has lost most of its moisture.

• Preserves more terpenes and cannabinoids due to intact drying
• Slower drying process enhances flavour and smoothness
• Less sticky; easier handling of buds and tools
• Best for: Experienced growers and flavour-focused harvests

Tools you need to trim cannabis properly

Before you start trimming, you need to make sure you have all the right tools. While commercial growers might have access to advanced equipment like a cannabis trimming machine, home growers can get the job done with fairly simple tools. The proper setup not only makes the job easier and faster; it also helps protect your buds and preserve their quality.

Here's what you'll need:

1. A pair of sharp, clean pruning shears: This tool is ideal for removing branches and cutting through thick stems with precision.
2. A trim tray or clean work surface: It keeps your area organised and makes collecting loose trichomes easier.
3. Sterile gloves: These protect your hands from sticky resin and reduce the risk of contamination.
4. Isopropyl alcohol or alcohol wipes: These are essential for keeping your cannabis trimming scissors clean and free from resin buildup.

Pro tip: Keep all of your tools within arm's reach and clean them regularly during the trimming process to maintain efficiency and avoid damaging your buds.

Professional Pruning Shears

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Professional Pruning Shears

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Step-by-step guide: How to trim your weed plants

This guide will walk you through the entire trimming process, helping you achieve clean, professional-looking buds every time.

Before you begin, it's important to decide whether you'll be wet trimming cannabis or dry trimming, as some of the steps differ slightly depending on your choice. But don't worry; this guide supports both methods and clearly points out where the techniques diverge, so you can follow along with confidence no matter how you approach your trimming.

1. Prepare your trimming tools and workspace

Before you touch a single bud, make sure your trimming area is clean, organised, and ready to go.

• Disinfect your tools using isopropyl alcohol or alcohol wipes. This will prevent resin buildup and eliminate potential pathogens that could contaminate your buds.
• Wear sterile gloves to protect your hands from resin and keep your trimming hygienic.
• Set up your cannabis trimming tray or a clean, flat surface to collect buds and any loose trichomes.
• Ensure your pruning shears and trimming scissors are sharp, clean, and easy to handle.

Pro tip: Keep a small container of alcohol nearby so you can quickly dip and wipe your tools when they get gummed up during trimming.

2. Remove the fan leaves first

Fan leaves are the large, flat leaves that grow outward from the main branches of your cannabis plant. They usually have long stems and do not contain many trichomes, which means they contribute very little to the potency or aroma of your final product.

So, why do we remove them first? These leaves tend to get in the way during trimming and drying, so removing them early helps improve airflow, visibility, and overall trimming efficiency.

• For both methods, you can gently pull fan leaves off by hand (wearing gloves) or snip them at the base using scissors or shears.
• If you're trimming the fan leaves wet, remove them as soon as the plant is harvested, while it's still moist and pliable.
• If you're dry trimming, extra care is needed. Dry buds are more brittle, so avoid pulling too hard as this could damage the flower. Trim slowly and use scissors when needed.

Pro dry trimming tip: After cutting down your branches and drying them, remove the individual buds from the branches before trimming. This gives you better control and helps you gently handle the dried buds.

Place the separated buds in a trim tray or on a clean surface to prepare for the next step.

3. Trim the sugar leaves around the buds

Sugar leaves are the small, trichome-covered leaves that stick out from your cannabis buds. Unlike fan leaves, sugar leaves are relatively rich in cannabinoids, making them more valuable, but they still need trimming to enhance your bud's appearance and smoking quality.

Untrimmed sugar leaves can make the smoke harsher and affect the flavour. Trimming them closely to the bud surface results in a smoother smoke and a more visually appealing product.

• During wet trimming, sugar leaves remain upright and visible, making them easier to spot and cut cleanly.
• In dry trimming, sugar leaves tend to curl inward and cling tightly to the bud. Take extra care not to snip into the flower or knock off delicate trichomes. Trim slowly and with precision.

Follow the bud's natural shape. Trim around it, not into it. Be sure to use small, sharp scissors and avoid over-trimming, which can damage resin glands.

Pro tip: Don't throw away your sugar leaves! Since they contain cannabinoids, they can be saved and used to make edibles or homemade concentrates.

Handle buds carefully to preserve trichomes

Trichomes are the tiny, crystal-like structures that coat your cannabis buds, and they're vital. These fragile glands contain the majority of your plant's cannabinoids and terpenes, which influence potency, aroma, and flavour.

Here are some top tips to protect them:

• Always handle buds by the stem, never by the flower itself. Touching the buds directly can crush or smear the resin, reducing overall quality.
• Use sharp scissors and a light touch during trimming to minimise unnecessary pressure on the buds.
• Wet buds are sticky and flexible, which makes them easier to manipulate. However, this also means resin builds up fast on your tools and gloves, so be sure to keep everything clean.
• Dry buds are brittle, and rough handling can easily knock off trichomes or cause crumbling. Trim slowly and gently, especially around tight sugar leaves.

4. Collect and store your trim

When you're trimming your cannabis plants, you'll end up with valuable leftover material, also known as trim. What happens next depends on whether you’re trimming wet or dry.

• Wet-trimmed buds: If you trim wet, your buds are still fresh and full of moisture. Before you can start the curing process, you need to make sure they’re properly dried.
• Dry-trimmed buds: With dry trimming, the drying process is already complete before trimming. That means the buds are ready to be cured right away, as long as you’re sure they’re completely dry (see step 5).

For more detailed instructions on preserving quality, check out our guide on how to cure your cannabis.

As you trim, you'll end up with a pile of leftover material, but don't throw it all away just yet! While the large fan leaves can usually be composted, your sugar leaf trim is rich in cannabinoids and can be saved for later use in edibles, tinctures, or concentrates.

5. Final dryness check before curing (for dry trimming only)

This step is essential if you've chosen the dry trimming method. Even though your buds may look dry on the outside, dense flowers can sometimes retain hidden pockets of moisture, especially if they were dried too quickly or unevenly.

Storing buds that are even slightly too moist can cause mould to develop during curing, which can ruin your entire harvest.

Here are some tips to check the dryness of your buds:

• Gently squeeze a trimmed bud. It should feel slightly crisp and springy, not soft or spongy.
• Break one open to inspect the interior. More drying time is needed if it feels cool, damp, or sticky.

If moisture is detected, place the buds back on a drying rack or hang them for another 12–24 hours in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place. This is a simple but crucial step to ensure your buds are truly ready for curing, protecting all of your hard work and preserving the quality of your cannabis.

Clean your tools regularly

During wet trimming, your tools can get sticky fast. The fresh resin from sugar leaves and buds can quickly build up on scissors and shears, making them less effective with every cut.

Simply put, sticky scissors will slow you down, cause rough cuts, and can even pull or tear at your buds, damaging delicate trichomes and affecting the appearance of your finished, trimmed buds.

Clean tools make for faster, easier, and more precise trimming, so don't wait until your scissors are all gummed up; stay ahead of the resin.

Alcohol Wipes (100 Pcs)

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Alcohol Wipes (100 Pcs)

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Why trimming cannabis is important

Before and after trimmed bud looks worlds apart. But as you can probably tell by this point, trimming your cannabis isn't just about aesthetics; it directly affects the quality and experience of your bud. Done properly, trimming enhances your buds' appearance, potency, flavour, and burnability.

Here's why it matters:

• Improves potency and smoothness: Removing excess plant material means less chlorophyll, which leads to a smoother, less harsh smoke.
• Enhances aromas and flavours: By trimming close to your bud, you expose more of the aromatic trichomes and preserve the natural profile of your terpenes.
• Reduces the risk of mould: Properly trimmed buds dry more evenly and quickly, helping to prevent mould and mildew during the drying and curing phases.
• Better visual appeal: Clean, manicured buds look better, something that's especially important if you're sharing or storing your harvest.

A well-trimmed bud doesn't just smoke better; it speaks to the care and craft behind your grow.

What comes after trimming your cannabis?

Once you've finished trimming, your next steps depend on the method you used. If you went with wet trimming, your buds are still fresh and need to be dried before moving on to curing. For full instructions, check out our guide on drying cannabis.

However, if you opted for dry trimming, it's time to move straight into the cannabis curing process.

No matter the path, don't overlook these final stages. Drying and curing are just as crucial as trimming when it comes to overall bud quality. Now that your trimming is done, it's time to move on.