We all have that one, maybe two... ok we have lots of shrubs in our garden that are just getting too big for their boots. But it's easier to just leave them alone to do their thing right? Wrong. Leaving the shrubs to just continue to grow will not only overcrowd the garden, but it can also be damaging to the plant because of all the excess weight and lack of sunlight to its heart. Now I know it can be a fairly scary job taking a saw and your old trusty loppers to your beloved plants, so today I will share with you my top tips on undertaking a regenerative prune. But firstly lets look at why and how to know when to do so.
So why prune?
After a number of years your once prized shrub can begin to look a bit sad and crowded. You may find that there is lots of dead wood or unproductive stems producing little to no flowers. Some shrubs are pruned hard as the new stems are particularly attractive and advantageous in the winter to add some much needed interest to the garden. An example of this would be Dog wood (Cornus alba or Cornus sibirica).
What can you do to bring my shrub back?
We need to prune the shrub back hard, almost to the ground. This is know as a Rejuvenation prune. Doing so will effectively produce a new, young, healthy plant. One which will usually produce a bouquet of flowers. As the plant begins to regrow we can then undertake light pruning to keep the desired shape and size.
When is the best time to do this?
This is the important part. If we cut the plant at the wrong time of the year then we will add unnecessary stress. With this being said the best time to prune deciduous shrubs (shrubs that drop their leaves in the winter) is late winter. This is because the plant will be in its dormant stage before it puts on new growth in the spring. It should be said that you should only perform and serious hack back every 3 to 5 years.
I want to crack on, how do I do this!
You are potentially going to be cutting through some larger stems to you'll want and pruning saw and a good pair of loppers as well as the appropriate PPE. It is really important to make clean cuts. Any poor cuts or torn bark can introduce pest and disease which ultimately could kill the shrub. Cut any main stems back to 6 inches from the ground. If possible cut just above a node (bud). Cut and side branches back to just above the first set of nodes. Try to make the cuts at angle. This helps any rain water to run off to prevent rot.
Are there any shrubs I can't prune?
Yes. Some plants only grow on new wood meaning if you where to prune them hard they would simply die. An example of this would be conifer. Always take care when pruning evergreen shrubs as they are slightly more sensitive too hard pruning. If you would like further advice or you would rather let the professionals tackle this one then get in touch
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