We all want a lively landscape with colorful blooms year after year. Achieve that Instagram-worthy garden by giving your plants a healthy rejuvination pruning after a few good years of wear and tear.
What is Rejuvenation Pruning?
A rejuvenation pruning in Wilmington NC involves a drastic cutting back of a shrub or plant. As the name implies, this is done to rejuvenate the plant and ensure healthy growth for the years to come. This heavy pruning also keeps the plants from becoming overgrown and unsightly.
Oftentimes, very thick and stubborn branches are no longer influenced by basic thinning and trimming. In most cases, rejuvenation pruning is the best way to bring your plant back to life. Some shrubs become barren after years of neglect. This pruning method will give them a chance to grow back and produce charming florals yet again.
What You Need to Perform Rejuvenation Pruning
Rejuvenation pruning is a pretty big job, however, it doesn’t require too many tools. Exactly what you need will depend on the plant or shrub you are pruning. This list of items should cover it:
- Long-handled pruners
- Pruning saw
- Lopping shears
Best Time for Rejuvenation Pruning in Wilmington NC
It is best to consider pruning in late winter or early spring, just before the new buds start to grow. Pruning the plant too late into spring will put stress on the plant, putting it at risk.
However, some experts mention that you should avoid rejuvenation pruning if you notice the following:
Your plant or shrub has only one main stem.
This also includes shrubs that are more like small trees, with on main stem. Rejuvenation pruning only works on multi-stemmed, twiggy shrubs like spirea, dogwoods, and viburnums.
Your plant is stressed or in poor health.
If the plant or shrub is diseased, plagued by insects, or suffering from not enough water, it won’t survive the extreme pruning.
The shrub or plant is an evergreen.
Cutting any type of evergreen down to a stump will ensure that all you’ll ever have is a stump. Generally speaking, evergreens do not need pruning.
How to Perform Rejuvenation Pruning
There are two major rejuvenation pruning techniques: Extensive and gradual rejuvenation.
First, the extensive technique. When performing an extensive pruning, the plant is almost completely removed, with only six to ten inches of the stem left above the ground. The plant will usually acknowledge this by giving off new shoots.
According to Jackie Caroll on the Garden Know How website, you should cut the main stems back to six to twelve inches from the ground, cutting back any side branches below the first cuts. She adds that the best place to cut is ¼ inch above an outward facing bud or node.
Second is gradual rejuvenation. ⅓ of the oldest and unfruitful branches should be removed during gradual rejuvenation pruning. Then the following year, take half of the old, remaining stems and in the third year, prune out the remainder of the old branches. This process takes longer to complete but the shrub stays more charming throughout the process.
Rejuvenation pruning is an intense kind of pruning that you can do every three to five years when you want those overgrowth around to be gone. However, there are factors that you need to consider before doing it in order to avoid risking the plant. Only a few basic tools are needed because the procedure is just easily performed. You can do extensive pruning or gradual rejuvenation to make your shrubs grow in vigor.
Rejuvenation pruning will give your garden a healthy make-over and restore the youthful state of your shrubs. Contact Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape if you are unsure about when to perform rejuvenation pruning in Wilmington NC. We can assess your shrubs and plants and prune them as needed so ensure optimal health and growth.