Get your trees and shrubs ready for spring with a good pruning. Pruning your trees is a smart approach to making the property safer, particularly when heavy winds and inclement weather hit. Furthermore, pruning can result in bigger, more-hardy trees by the next spring and summer season. Talk to landscape professionals for assistance in pruning larger trees, gardens, or properties.
Wondering the best way to prune? Consider these tips to prepare for spring the right way:
Don’t prune when your tree is in bloom.
There are times of the year that are better for pruning; late winter for trees and late-bloomers, and late-spring after the bloom for seasonal shrubs and plants, such as lilacs or rhododendrons. Save any major clipping or heavy pruning until your plant is dormant, typically in the wintertime. This gives you a better view of the trunk and branches. This also prevents a lot of disease as the pruning ‘wounds’ are not exposed during vulnerable seasons. This applies to fruit trees, like apple or pear, also.
Pruning is integral.
Pruning is important to produce fuller foliage, more blooms, and less potential for damage to both the plants and surrounding property during winds or weather. If your tree or shrub is older or more delicate, you may want to consider renovation pruning. Renovation pruning is slight and specific trimming over the course of three years or longer. Talk to a landscape professional about setting up this practice for your very special, exotic, or older varieties.
Prune with care.
When you are pruning trees or shrubs, avoid the common practice of lopping off the top. When you lop-off the top branches and blooms of a shrub or tree- such as a crepe myrtle- you will end up with a stump. Shoots will grow from the stump, but since this is a slow-grower typically, the shoots will not be able to hold up the weight of the blossoms. The new branches or shoots will hang down toward the ground and your flowers will likely wither.
Focus on key areas.
Carefully plan and prune your trees and shrubs, tackling damaged areas first, then any branches that cross, rub, or are tangled with others. Probably the most important thing to remember is that you can always go back and prune more, so go easy.
Talk to a professional.
When you want your southern landscape to look its best, work with a local landscaping services company. These are the experts that can guide you when you want to add new features and varieties to your property, as well as how to best maintain and care for your investment.
Keep your landscape pristine and protected with the services of Natural Tendencies Landscape Professionals in Charleston. Regular pruning and landscape maintenance ensures you won’t have branches breaking loose this winter, which could present a potential danger to you and your neighbors. This also promises to produce fuller, even-more beautiful foliage in the spring and summer!