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SPRING PRUNING TIPS FOR SHRUBS
Spring is a busy season,
and the landscape and pruning is just one of the most
important tasks. Shrubs respond well to pruning if it is
done properly and at the correct time with sharp tools.
WHY PRUNE?
Pruning controls form,
height, flowering and fruiting ability of landscape
plants. Pruning often keeps plants healthy and vigorous.
WHEN TO PRUNE?
Timing is as important as
the actual pruning cuts. If done at the incorrect time,
pruning may weaken a plant, cause it to be more
susceptible to disease or insects, may eliminate all new
flowers and fruit, and may cause excessive suckering and
misshapen form.
1. Spring is an excellent
season to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs,
branches, or stems.
2. Next, remove weak
crossing branches, suckers, sprouts, and branches that
are too low or too long. Never leave stubs of branches
(the stub will die). Make all cuts back to or just above
a healthy side branch or bud.
3. Prune to encourage
flowers. Some shrubs form flowers on new stems, whereas
other shrubs for flower on wood formed the previous
summer. Refer to the list below to prune at the correct
time of years. If you prune at the wrong time, you may
reduce the next season’s bloom.
SPRING FLOWERING
SHRUBS WHICH SHOULD BE PRUNED AFTER FLOWERING UNTIL THE
END OF JUNE (These flowers on wood formed the
previous summer)
- Cotoneaster
- Flowering Crab
- Barberry
- Holly
- Flowering Quince
- Mt. Laurel
- Smoke Tree
- Beautybush
- Cornelian Cherry
- Honeysuckle
- Deutzia
- Magnolia
- Forsythia
- Mock Orange
- Weigelia
- Wisteria
- Andromeda
- Pyracantha
- Azalea
- Rhododendron
- Spirea
- Lilac
- Viburnum
SUMMER FLOWERING
SHRUBS WHICH SHOULD BE PRINED BEFORE SPRING GROWTH
BEGINS (These shrubs bloom on new branches formed
during the current spring or summer)
- Butterfly Bush
- Hydrangea
- Clematis (Vine)
- Hybrid Tea Rose
- Summersweet Clethra
- Sweetbay
- Magnolia
- Rose of Sharon
- Anthony Waterer
Spirea
4. Prune to direct growth
and to shape shrubs. Prune shrubs to keep their height
and shape attractive in the landscape. Prune a little
every year. Do NOT wait until plants have grown beyond
their bounds. Prune to a growing point on the stem that
aces in a direction you want the plant to develop.
BASIC PRUNING CUTS
1. Heading Back ~ Shorten
branches by cutting them just above a good bud or a side
branch.
2. Thinning ~ Remove
entire branch(es) back to a main branch, to the trunk or
to the ground.
3. Pinching ~ Remove stem
tips of new growth to control size of plant and make it
fuller. This is often done with pines, spruces, yews and
evergreens as the new growth develops in spring and
early summer. Always prune hedges wider at the bottom so
sunlight reaches lower branches. The same purpose can be
accomplished by shearing, using the tools listed below.
PRUNING TOOLS
The three main
pruning tools for backyard landscapers are pruning
shears, lopping shears, hand pruners, and a pruning saw.
Good quality tools are available at Agway.
Use hand pruning
shears to cut small branches, less than ½ inch in
diameter. Use loppng shears, (often called long-handled
pruners) to cut branches ½ to 1 inch in diameter. Use a
pruning saw (designed to cut on the pull stroke) for
branches over 1 inch in diameter.
Agway and You ~ Lawn &
Garden Project Partners
Agway is more than
high quality fertilizers, plants, tools, seed, feeds,
and chemicals for your house, yard, and barn. We’re lawn
and garden people, too, and that’s really what makes us
so very different, so complete, and so much a part of
gardening and farming in the Northeast.
Our proud tradition of
helping customers means everything to us. Because for
three generations, we’ve known that knowledgeable
salespeople giving sound advice with a smile means
everything to our customers. You can bring all your lawn
and garden questions to Agway and be sure that they’ll
be answered by friendly, trained people who use and know
their products. We’re here to help. We know how to help.
And we’ll take all the time you need. It’s that simple.
So, when you think of any
lawn or garden project, think of Agway. We’ll give you
our best advice and products to help you do it right.
Country value isn’t just a slogan ~ it’s our way of
serving you. |
