pruning shrubs
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
what time of year is best to prune back shrubs in New England, e.g. rhododendrons?
Is it OK to trim them back in the winter, even though they show buds on them already?
Most rhododendrons set their buds in the fall for blooming in the spring. If you trim them back now, they will not set new buds until the following fall, so you won’t get spring flowering on the trimmed back branches. The only real reason to prune rhododendrons is to shape them and that is best done after flowering. Keep in mind that they will likely stop growing where pruned. It won’t encourage bushiness or “revitalize them” in the way that pruning helps some shrubs (like forsythias). Shrubs that bloom in the summer usually set buds in the spring. They can be pruned now or in very early spring (they will usually bloom on “new growth”) so pruning won’t interfere with flowering.
Gardening Tips : Tips on Pruning Shrubs
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Pruning Matters: The Formula for Pruning Mastery DVD/Field Guide Combo Pack $34.99 Fran West’s easy-to-learn method, The Formula for Pruning Mastery, will help you enhance the natural beauty of your shrubs and small trees. When you purchase your New, updated and revised DVD, don’t forget to include Fran’s handy Field Guide for a quick reference that fits in your back pocket.
Since 1991, Fran West has been a pruning specialist and lecturer for clubs and businesses nationwide. “… |
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Pruning Matters: The Formula for Pruning Mastery $29.99 Fran West’s easy-to-learn method, The Formula for Pruning Mastery, will help you enhance the natural beauty of your shrubs and small trees. When you purchase your New, updated and revised DVD, don’t forget to include Fran’s handy Field Guide for a quick reference that fits in your back pocket. Since 1991, Fran West has been a pruning specialist and lecturer for clubs and businesses nationwide. “… |