Pruning Tips

This is the time of year for prunig. Pruning is one of the least understood practices of landscape maintenance. Basically you don't prune unless there is a good reason to do so.

One of the main reasons we prune is to maintain or limit the size and shape of a plant. But if you have to frequently prune any plant to make it fit into an area, it probably should not have been planted there in the first place. It might be a good idea to consider replacing it with one of smaller mature size that better fits the space. Another reason we prune is to remove diseased, dead, or abnormal plant tissue. Or we might be pruning to stimulate flowering and/or fruit production. We may want to develop a specific plant form, like a hedge, topiary or an espalier. We might need to remove plant parts that may interfere with structures or utility lines or that may create a visibility problem. Most of this type of problem could be avoided if the mature height and width of shrubs and trees are taken into consideration before planting.

Know your plant type before you begin pruning. When to prune is particularly important. For plants that flower in late spring, prune now. Tese plants include crapemyrtle, floribunda roses.

For early spring flowering plants, prune in late spring after their flowering season is over. These plants include azaleas, dogwoods, forsythia, spirea