Pruning and Plant Healthcare

Proper pruning techniques and tools will improve and maintain plant appearance, health and disease-resistance. Pruning will rejuvenate old shrubs and trees, controlling their size as well as guiding their future growth and shape. It encourages early vegetative growth, stimulates flowering and fruiting in some species and helps produce larger flowers or fruits in others. Pruning trains young plants, shrubs and trees for greater strength and weather resistance. Pruning also helps prevent property damage or personal injury by removing dead or hazardously low limbs.

The following information summarizes the focus of each seasonal component of our comprehensive pruning program. The type of plant material on site dictates the frequency of pruning.

• Early Spring
  • Inspect ornamental trees and shrubs for winter stress and broken branches
  • Perform remedial pruning as necessary
  • Cut back ornamental grasses
  • Prune summer flowering shrubs
• Late Spring
  • Prune spring-flowering ornamental trees and shrubs, as appropriate, to direct future growth and shape and stimulate bud formation for the subsequent season
• Summer
  • Prune and shape evergreen shrubs
  • Prune spent flower heads from shrubs and perennials to promote fuller growth and more blooms
• Autumn
  • Cut back herbaceous perennials (except ornamental grasses) as they turn brown or yellow, to prevent disease
  • Remove annuals either when spent or after first frost
  • Perform remedial pruning as necessary

Horticultural

The timely application of the correct type and amount of fertilizer to both newly planted and established landscape plants and shrubs is vital to healthy root, leaf and flower development. We will apply fertilizer in either spring or autumn according to the amount of time elapsed since planting and the growth or bloom habits of each particular plant.