fbpx
Tips For Pruning Your Plants & Shrubs.

Tips For Pruning Your Plants & Shrubs.

by | Jul 8, 2017 | Landscape Ideas & Tips

Spring is a great time to start planning for your summer pruning, trimming, and/or shearing of your shrubs. But what method is best for your landscape? Knowing the best method to prune and trim is critical! Pruning a plant at the wrong time of year or in the wrong way can cause irreparable damage to your landscape. For example, it is more than okay to trim knockout roses with power shearers. But, if you do this to a long-stemmed rose variety, like a grandiflora, floribunda, or hybrid tea rose, you’ll ruin the plant! With that in mind, let’s define some terms… Shrub Trimming Normal shrub trimming involves using electric or gas-powered shearers to trim shrubs. This often gives your landscape a more uniform and even appearance. It is also the fastest and most efficient way to trim many shrubs. You should discuss with your landscape professional to determine if this method is right for you as shearing is not advised for some plant species. Hand Pruning Hand pruning involves selectively cutting individual stems to give your shrub a more natural shape. This service is performed with a pair of hand pruners, which look a little bit like a pair of scissors. New growth is removed to maintain its natural shape, one snip at a time. Although more time consuming and costly, this is the best option the long-term health of your plants. Hand pruning is also used to naturally thin a plant to improve air circulation and light penetration. This method is also used for topiaries (trimming a shrub into a specific shape). When trying to maintain that nice...