Puzzled About Pruning?

The pruning of shrubs is somewhat like the programming of a VCR machine: both cause normally intelligent people to feel completely flummoxed. Unfortunately I can't help you with the VCR... you'll just have to live with that flashing clock. I can, however, list some general guidelines that will help as you contemplate your growing landscape.

Pruning vs. shearing.
Don't confuse pruning with shearing. Shearing is clipping all the growing tips off of a shrub with a hand or electric shears, usually results in a green globe or cube. Shearing is appropriate for hedges, topiary, and some evergreen shrubs in a formal garden, but for other plants it destroys the natural shape of the shrub and can diminish flowering. Unless you have hedges, walk by the shearing tools at your garden center, and invest in a good pair of by-pass pruners instead.

Keeping it small?
Whenever possible, prune to improve appearance, not to control size. If a shrub is getting too large for its location, have it moved. It is difficult to keep a plant both well shaped and small. In fact, pruning stimulates growth, so the plant you trim down in order to keep it "under control" will usually replace what you have removed within a season. Keep in mind that the plant is genetically programmed to be a certain size, and unless you've planted it in a bonsai dish, trying to keep it small is a losing battle.

OLM International?

Ed Jensen, OLM consultant and VP, made a one-week trip to Brazil in March to do some landscape and interior plantscape inspections and assessments. This one-time trip shows that Property Owners everywhere face the same challenges in landscape maintenance, aesthetics and budgeting. OLM's recommendations were well received by Owners and Contractors alike. Good job, Ed!

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