Why You Will Regret Not Pruning Your Shrubs: Spring Edition

Landscaping is an investment. Whether you’re spending time or money, you’re going to spend a significant amount this year. Doing something that can ruin your enjoyment of your property will hurt.

That something you can do to ruin it all? Nothing.

When it’s time to prune, doing nothing will cost you.

WHAT’S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN?

There are many unforeseen consequences to neglecting this simple task:

• Plants that aren’t reined in can overgrow and steal resources from others.
• If diseased branches aren’t removed, the whole plant can become infected.
• Lack of fruit production. Removing unhealthy branches keeps nutrients flowing to healthy buds.

Now you’re thinking, Okay, it’s important. I’ll do it when I have time.

Sorry, that won’t cut it. You’re going to have to make time. It’s a good idea to get a few basics down about technique before you go crazy with the pruning shears.

PRUNE THE RIGHT PLANTS, THE RIGHT WAY …

Proper technique begins with the proper tools:

• You should have a variety of pruning shears of different handle lengths and blade size for different thicknesses of branches. Otherwise, your job is going to be unnecessarily difficult.
• You should also have a hacksaw on hand for the thickest of branches. Sharpen all your blades before getting started.

The Arbor Day Foundation provides some basic guidance on technique, and on where and how much to cut. The most important rule is that if the plant is beginning to bud, cut just beyond the bud, and at a 45-degree angle.

… AND WHEN POSSIBLE, AT THE RIGHT TIME

Ideal timing is all about the plant’s bloom season. The best time to prune is when you are going to help future flowering and not hinder current growth, i.e. when it is dormant.

Don’t get too hung up on timing, however. If you’re reading this in the summer and your shrubs are out of control, by all means, do some pruning!

But in case you’re interested, now (early spring, when we’re posting this) is the ideal time to prune the following shrubs if you haven’t yet, because they will bloom in the summer. Some of the shrubs that may be growing on your Indiana property and need pruning asap are:

• Gardenia
• Privet
• Repeat-flowering roses
• Rose-of-Sharon
• Sweetshrub

CAN’T GET IT DONE? GET HELP.

While pruning is actually one of the most straightforward landscaping tasks, it is also one of the most neglected. It’s just another thing on your to-do list.

We get it! Clean Cut includes shrub pruning in property maintenance packages because it’s the most important task you’ll never do. If you want a return of healthy, fruitful, beautiful plants on your investment of all that time and money, pruning is simply non-negotiable.

Learn more about your plants, including when they flower, through our Plant Library link. Look under Resources on Clean Cut’s Residential Services page.

Clean Cut Lawn & Landscape
7415 W Jackson St
Muncie, IN 47304-9759
(765) 759-8575
info@cleancutlandscape.net