Enjoy the Summer....
Prune this Winter
According to the Chicago Botanic Garden, "winter is the best time to prune". Plants are dormant and their branches are easy to see and pruning is less stressful for the plants. Also, there is little or no active disease that can spread from plant to plant.
Why prune?
Horticultural pruning should be done for several reasons including:
Maintain attractive size and shape.
Remove dead, damaged or diseased branches.
Remove rubbing or crossing branches.
Strengthen the structure of the plant.
Increase light penetration and air circulation within the plant.
Correct damage from improper pruning.
With proper pruning, most plants can be maintained at a particular size for many, many years. In contrast, continual shearing can shorten a plant's life and only control its size for a short period. The plant will just get bigger or begin to die. Plants can be sheared to create a desired shape or size but should always be followed by dormant pruning. To learn more about dormant pruning or or request a quote for pruning services call 662-8527 or email Grieder's landscape maintenance services.
Renew and Rejuvenate Shrubs
Multi-stemmed shrubs like lilac, forsythia, weigela and redtwig dogwood should have 1/3 of the oldest stems removed each year. These stems should be cut 2 to 3 inches above the ground. This will encourage new growth from the ground up. General shaping can be done following this "renewal" pruning. This type of pruning will keep the plants vigorous and allow you to keep it at a desirable size for years.
Dense, twiggy shrubs like spirea, weiglea and forsythia can be "rejuvenated" by cutting the entire plant back to 3 or 6 inches above the ground. This process can be done every 2 to 3 years and will keep plants healthy and attractive.
Weigela shrub before rejuvenative pruning.
For rejuvenative pruning, all stems are cut just above the ground.
This can be done with hand pruners or shears.
In spring the shrub will regrow into
a beautiful, healthy, young plant.
For more information or a quote on dormant pruning call us at 662-8527 or
email Cathy. Grieder can provide expert advice for the do-it-yourselfer or we can provide professional pruning services if that will make your life and landscape more enjoyable!
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