Don't Shrug Off Pruning Your Shrubs
Most people overlook the shrubs and hedges on their property, yet with some basic pruning, these shrubs can look far more appealing and improve growth dramatically. There are a few tips that apply to most basic shrubs, including lilac, hibiscus, hydrangea, butterfly bush, and many more. Use these to enhance and improve the shrubs around your home.
Pruning is prudent.
Pruning your shrubs has more of an impact than merely aesthetic. Pruning shrubs routinely allows sunlight to reach all parts of the shrub for optimal growth. Furthermore, you create better air circulation when you prune your shrubs, which makes them healthier overall, and less prone to mildew or diseases.
There is a time to prune.
The best time to prune is after the blooms of the shrub have passed, before the new buds for the following season emerge. If you wait too long, pruning may remove many of the newly formed buds that will bloom the following summer, which results in a leafier, less-floral shrub. It is also important to prune after the risk of frost has gone by.
Tips for proper pruning.
The best approach for trimming your shrub is with very sharp pruning shears that can cut cleanly through the thick stems of your shrub. Cut at a 45-degree angle, and always make the cuts above and close to a bud. Cutting too far above or below buds will force the shrub to expend more energy to support the additional stem, which may result in poorer overall growth and bloom.
Don't underestimate the weather.
Even though it is not recommended that you prune your shrubs during cold, frosty weather, if the shrub's branches or stems become damaged, it is important to prune them right away. The shrub may use energy and resources that it doesn't have to try and repair the broken branch, which impacts the overall health of the shrub. Trimming damaged stems allows healthy new stems to grow.
Extend the life of your old shrubs.
Give old, tired shrubs a second chance at life with an extreme pruning. This is referred to as rejuvenation, and it involves cutting the shrub back by one-third of its size each year, for three years in a row. Focus on cutting off shoots and stray buds along the base to give the shrub an attractive, aesthetic appeal.
If you haven't pruned or trimmed your property's shrubs lately, then it is long overdue. Give them a quick snip and trim after the frost, and before new buds appear, to give them a new shape and appealing look this season. This will also contribute to healthy, hardy shrubs that you enjoy for years to come. For assistance, talk to a professional like Lawn-Tech, Ltd.
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