Planetagarden
Prune evergreen shrubs, such as juniper and yew, in late March or early April before new growth begins. Light pruning may also be done in mid-summer. Avoid pruning evergreen shrubs in the fall. Fall pruned evergreens are more susceptible to winter injury.
- What time of year do you trim evergreen shrubs?
- How do you trim overgrown evergreen bushes?
- When should you not trim bushes?
- What month is considered late winter?
- When should overgrown bushes be trimmed?
What time of year do you trim evergreen shrubs?
Prune in early spring or mid-summer. When heavy pruning is necessary, prune before new growth begins in early spring so that new growth conceals pruning cuts. To lower the height (no more than 20 percent) of a plant, cut back to a lower branch crotch, making cuts only into live wood.
How do you trim overgrown evergreen bushes?
One method is to prune them back over a 3-year period. Begin by removing one-third of the large, old stems at ground level in late winter/early spring (March or early April). The following year (again in March or early April), prune out one-half of the remaining old stems. Also, thin out some of the new growth.
When should you not trim bushes?
Cut back shrubs grown primarily for their foliage, like barberry and burning bush, almost anytime except in late autumn. New growth that starts after late-season pruning won't harden off properly before winter. If you want to do major pruning, it's best to cut the shrub back when it is dormant in winter.
What month is considered late winter?
When is Late Winter? Late winter is 4 to 6 weeks before spring thaw begins. This could be any time in January to May, depending on your climate.
When should overgrown bushes be trimmed?
Badly overgrown shrubs respond well to pruning in late winter/early spring, just before new leaves appear. Managing large shrubs isn't done overnight. Instead, prune neglected, overgrown shrubs over three years. Each year, take out a third of the heaviest stems to start new growth developing.
