Now is a great time to prune many of your Spring blooming shrubs. Toward the end of May and during June, most Spring blooming shrubs, like azaleas, have finished blooming and have begun their growing process. I never use hedge shears to prune my azaleas or similar shrubs. I like to selectively prune my azaleas up until July 4th. Selective pruning keeps our azaleas looking natural and full and involves using hand snips rather than hedge shears by making our cuts inside the canopy of the shrubs.
It takes a little more time initially, but over the growing season I find that I am pruning fewer times than when using the shearing method. When using the selective pruning method, the shrubs keep their natural look and are not "boxed" or sheared into individual circles. To learn more about selective pruning check out one of my quick videos on pruning azaleas here.
Remember, if you hire someone to prune your shrubs, have that person explain their personal pruning methods. If they prefer to use hedge shears on plants like azaleas, roses, or Loropetalums - causing a natural looking shrub to be boxy or round - run from them as soon as possible! I have seen too many landscape investments ruined by hiring an untrained contractor or "handy man" to prune the shrubs. In this economy more and more folks are calling themselves Landscapers and Groundskeepers. According to the Bureau Department of Labor around 402,000 grounds maintenance workers were self-employed, and provided their landscape services directly to the customers on a contract basis. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor) Whether you are the sole caretaker of your landscape or you hire someone to help you, it is important that you know how to correctly prune your prize shrubs and trees so you can enjoy them for years to come.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Grounds Maintenance Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos172.htm (visited May 30, 2010).
Now is a great time to prune many of your Spring blooming shrubs. Toward the end of May and during June, most Spring blooming shrubs, like azaleas, have finished blooming and have begun their growing process. I never use hedge shears to prune my azaleas or similar shrubs. I like to selectively prune my azaleas up until July 4th. Selective pruning keeps our azaleas looking natural and full and involves using hand snips rather than hedge shears by making our cuts inside the canopy of the shrubs.
It takes a little more time initially, but over the growing season I find that I am pruning fewer times than when using the shearing method. When using the selective pruning method, the shrubs keep their natural look and are not "boxed" or sheared into individual circles. To learn more about selective pruning check out one of my quick videos on pruning azaleas here.
Remember, if you hire someone to prune your shrubs, have that person explain their personal pruning methods. If they prefer to use hedge shears on plants like azaleas, roses, or Loropetalums - causing a natural looking shrub to be boxy or round - run from them as soon as possible! I have seen too many landscape investments ruined by hiring an untrained contractor or "handy man" to prune the shrubs. In this economy more and more folks are calling themselves Landscapers and Groundskeepers. According to the Bureau Department of Labor around 402,000 grounds maintenance workers were self-employed, and provided their landscape services directly to the customers on a contract basis. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor) Whether you are the sole caretaker of your landscape or you hire someone to help you, it is important that you know how to correctly prune your prize shrubs and trees so you can enjoy them for years to come.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Grounds Maintenance Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos172.htm (visited May 30, 2010).