Rejuvenation Pruning Tips for Overgrown Shrubs

Transform your out-of-control plant by looking for problematic growth and correcting accordingly

The mild days of winter offer gardeners an chance to tend to tasks that are best done when the landscape painting is dormant . One of those project is the rejuvenation or renovation pruning of shrubs . This case of work is not for the timid , as it is rather aggressive . The purpose of this job is to take anovergrownor badly shape works and selectively remove a substantial amount of its structure to further a replacement of levelheaded growth in the springtime . Allpruningencourages young outgrowth ; greening pruning results in robust growth . When properly executed , shrub can be give new life and keep their natural contour even if melt off in size of it . A miscellany of species lend themselves to this proficiency , and I have worked on manyviburnums(Viburnumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9),lilacs(Syringaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8),mock orange shrubs(Philadelphuscoronarius , Zones 4–8 ) , andburning bushes(Euonymusalatus , Zones 4–8 ) .

Why prune during the dormant season

Winter pruning is beneficial , as most shrubs are bare or have reduced leaves , making the overall structure of a shrub as well as any progeny with growth easy attend . Each of these issues needs attention , with decision made as to how good to correct the problem . This is not the time for concern about save spring - bloom buds , or about whether a plant is flower on new or old wood . We must be center on regenerate the bush and be fix for fewer flowers the first time of year after this work .

To get started, look for these issues in your shrub

First , pucker your pecker , which should consist of a good twosome ofhand prunersand at least one pair of loppers , all sharpened . If you have very great tree branch , apruning sawmay be necessary . Take a step back and look at the overall build and size of it of the shrub . Consider how the bush seem compared to the species standard and how well this shrub agree in the space where it is growing — essentially , is this industrial plant execute the agency you want it to ? I call this the “ big exposure ” appraisal . You should also await for any baffling increase . This includes :

If this is the first rejuvenation pruning for your shrub , you will sure enough find that a lot of workplace needs to be done .

Example: Pruning an overgrown Burkwood viburnum

The Burkwood viburnum ( Viburnum×burkwoodii , Zones 4–8 ) in my garden had overgrown its spot by the patio . I have made a point of giving it a good cartridge holder to keep it in bound after it bloom each spring , but that has just not been enough , and it was sentence for more extensive work . I begin the pruning process slowly by bring in the sides where ramification infringe on a route or other plant , lop back to a bud heading in the charge I want the raw growth to go . ( baseball swing should be made at dissimilar level along the ramification so that unexampled outgrowth is careen within the bush . ) I then slenderize out clusters of twigs so there would be more airwave and light reaching the sum of the shrub , encouraging midland increment and a healthy environment .

arm originate backward into the center of the works were next : I removed or pruned them to redirect them to head to the exterior . work with this semi - evergreen plant disturbed the leave , which fell and made the branches more visible . ( Wear a smooth cap or you hazard the leaf sticking to you . ) I then shorten back new growth to promote branching and cut old ontogenesis to reduce height and force fresh maturation at lower levels .

When I was finally finished , there was a lot of air and room to mature where a mass of branches had stood only an hour earlier . It may face like a fell violation , but by midsummer this Burkwood viburnum will be lush with fresh growing as a answer of one afternoon ’s exploit . This approach path has sacrificed many of the blooms for this spring , but it will be deserving it in next seasons . As I distinguish my shocked clients , I ’ve done this before and the shrub always come back better than they were .

For more crest on pruning shrubs , look into outFine Gardening‘spruning project scout . And for more Northern Plains regional report , click here .

— Marti Neely , FAPLD , owns and manoeuvre Marti Neely Design and Associates in Omaha , Nebraska .

Photos : Marti Neely

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