Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Framing the Perfect Garden Helps Keep It All Looking Great.

Sunday, 5th February, 2012 @ 08:16am
by Deborah Rankin

If you want to minimize the size of a shrub, the rule of thumb is not to remove more than 1/3 of the shrub each growing season. Removing too much of a shrub at can cause shock and result in unwanted growth or water-shoots.

Try not to turn your shrub in a round mound-shaped plant. You can reduce the overall size of the shrub, but do it in an irregular pattern, much like it grows naturally. Shearing a shrub with electric or manual pruners will give the shrub an unnatural .mushroom. effect and create a dense canopy of leaves at the top of the shrub. This shades the interior of the shrub and stunts leaf growth in the centre of the plant and eventually creates a shrub that cannot be easily reduced in size. This dense canopy also encourages disease because light and air do not circulate throughout the plant.

Prune summer or fall flowering shrubs (PeeGee Hydrangeas, Roses of Sharon) in the spring. Spring and early summer bloomers (Forsythia, Magnolia, Lilacs) should be pruned in the fall or immediately after flowering. These shrubs produce their blooms on the previous season's growth and pruning them in the spring before they bloom will reduce the amount of desired flowers.

Don't be afraid to prune your shrubs. Just remember to make the cuts clean and neat - don't tear the bark or leave frayed ends. A clean cut will heal quickly and does not require pruning paint.