Posts Tagged ‘pruning’
Tree Pruning
Pruning a tree sometimes invokes more worry than it should. You wonder if removing a tree limb is analogous to cutting off your leg (does it hurt? will I kill it?). Fortunately, if you take your time, pruning can be easily done,...
Crapemyrtle – Pruning
One of the most confounding arguments I face is whether and how to prune crapemyrtles. They are mercilessly “murdered” by unaware landscapers and homeowners each winter… yet they still bloom in summer. Some people even believe a crapemyrtle won’t bloom...
Shrub – Pruning Calendar
The Home & Garden section of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution published a very nice pruning calendar several years ago. When viewed on a sheet of newsprint, it was gorgeous. When reduced to fit onto a sheet of typing paper...
Hydrangea Summer Pruning – Step by Step
The recent summer rains filled the leaves and roots of my hydrangeas with water, making them strong. Now that the flowers have faded in late June I can prune them to the size I want for next year. Look at...
Muscadine and Scuppernong – Pruning
A properly trained vine has a trunk, two arms and fruiting spurs. The first two years of training are devoted to developing the permanent trunk and fruiting arms. In the spring following planting, each plant will produce three or four...
Japanese Maple – Growing a Vigorous Green Top
Q: My Japanese maple started growing in a different direction. It took me a while to actually go close and see that I think there is a graft and now it’s like I have two different trees. Should I cut...
Cherry Laurel – Pruning
Q: I have several ‘Bright and Tight’ cherry laurels that I planted last spring. Last fall I noticed they had lost a lot of leaves. This spring there is new growth but it is only on the tips of each...
Co-dominant Trunks – Pruning
Q: I have heard you speak about “co-dominant” trunks, emphasizing that multiple trunks are not conducive to a tree’s health. My Bloodgood Japanese maples have co-dominant trunks. Do I prune them? A: Having two parallel trunks can be a problem...
Peach – Seedling with Broken Top
Q: I’ve heard about the difficulties growing peaches but decided to try it anyway. After a long wait over the winter months I got a peach seed to germinate. It started very strong and was doing great until my three-year-old...
Azalea – Pruning Large Ones
Q: I have a couple of azaleas that have become monsters! I did not cut them back for years and they now dominate my front landscape. In recent years, I have taken out large, too me, alternating branches in an...
Japanese Maple – Pruning
Q: The ‘Bloodgood’ maple in my front yard is visually too big for the front of the house. I would like to reduce the size by one-third. I called a Japanese maple expert but he refuses to reduce the size,...
Chaste Tree (Vitex) – Pruning
Q: Last year my husband I planted a chaste tree. Somehow my husband did not keep it in check and now we are at a loss on how to prune it. My husband wants it to have three to four...
Fruit – Pruning
Winter and early spring are the best time to prune fruiting plants, whether trees, vines or bushes. The purpose of pruning is to train a plant to its strongest form and to get the correct ratio of leaves to developing...
Fig – Pruning a Large One
Past years have produced bumper crops of figs for home gardeners. There were enough for birds, yellow jackets, kids and adults to share without dispute. Along with blueberries and raspberries, figs are almost carefree. The biggest problem that a fig...
Shrub – Pruning
As spring approaches, the first yellow blooms on forsythia plants remind some gardeners that they have once again put off pruning until the last minute. Plants are pruned for different reasons. Shrub roses need pruning annually, to make the new...
Nandina – Pruning
Nandina is sometimes called “heavenly bamboo”. The jointed, multiple stalks vaguely resemble bamboo, but the plant would never be mistaken for fishing pole material! Nandinas have two major pluses in the landscape: they tolerate shade very well and their bright...
Hydrangeas – Pruning Late
Even though July is the preferred month to prune bigleaf hydrangeas, sometimes circumstances intervene to keep you from doing what should be done. If that is the case, don’t despair. Hydrangeas can still be pruned after August… but more carefully...
Gardenia – When to Prune
Gardenias can often get too large for their spot. Their flowers are so beautiful and fragrant, many gardeners don’t want to do anything that retards blooming. These notes from Ted Stephens at Nurseries Caroliniana, Inc. should help: “Gardenias flower on...
