Hard pruning shrubs

[JT101]

Hi everyone

Got some large shrubs to prune. They haven't been done in a while

Problem I've always had in the past is that as soon as you go in a couple of inches, you're into brown twiggy branches with no foliage, and it looks terrrible, especially during the growing season.

So my question is, how do you make large cuts without this effect. I'm guessing you can't, and the only option is to do it during winter time, and the spring growth will return to cover the stems.

Thanks

[Martin H]

So my question is, how do you make large cuts without this effect. I'm guessing you can't, and the only option is to do it during winter time, and the spring growth will return to cover the stems.

For deciduous and semi-deciduous shrubs, this is generally right. Hard pruning in winter will stimulate lots of growth in the spring.

Evergreen stuff is trickier. Some (like Rhododendrons and yews) don't care, chop them as hard as you like and they will sprout from old wood. Some (like lavendars and hebes) will probably die whenever you chop them... personally I cut everything down to size at a convenient time when I can see what I'm doing; if the plant dies I can always buy a smaller replacement!

You could always try cutting half of the stems on each plant this winter, then next winter after it has regrown, cut the other half. Mostly I haven't got the patience.

[nickdub]

Depends on the type of shrub as well - some sorts will regrow if pruned almost down to the ground, others given this treatment will likely die off.

[Bill Door]

I agree with Martin H and his last comment. If you really don't like them now and don't do anything you won't like them in 12 months and you will probably have a lot more work to do. As my dad use to say "they have two chances". Best do it now and start saving your pennies for replacements next year. You never know you might be able to take your partner out for a very nice lunch and the shrubs will be ok.

Bill

[DannyK]

Usually time to prune is after flowering. Doing it in winter could lead to loss of flowering shoots.

When I first started I got an RHS book on pruning, which was really useful as it had remedial as well as routine. Still it's all on Youtube now.

You also need to look at which ones need entire stems taken out to the ground. Biggest mistake is to give lot of shrubs like philadelphus a hair cut and trim.