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Tips for Pruning Flowering Shrubs

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Tips for Pruning Flowering Shrubs
The novice gardener may be reluctant of pruning flowering shrubs for fear of permanently damaging or killing them. In most instances, more long-term damage results from lack of pruning than from any pruning that was done. Following a few simple rules will help you sustain a beautiful landscape.

Pruning flowering shrubs is necessary in the maintenance of your landscape for the following reasons:
• To control, develop and maintain plant size
• To improve branching structure
• To increase sunlight to the center of the plant
• To renew and invigorate the remaining branches
• To increase air circulation which aids in disease control
• To remove dead and diseased wood

Different types of flowering shrubs require pruning at different times of the year. As a rule, spring flowering shrubs such as forsythia, lilac, magnolia, rhododendron and azaleas should not be pruned in the fall as you will cut off their flowering buds and they will not bloom the following spring. You can trim them in the spring after they have flowered. Other flowering shrubs like weigelas can be pruned in the fall. Hydrangeas can also be pruned back in the fall but it is somewhat a matter of personal preference as their dried flower buds add winter interest.
Helpful Tips: Spireas and potentillas benefit from rejuvenation pruning every few years. These plants should be pruned back to within 3-6 inches of the ground. Spireas will re-bloom in late summer if you cut the spent flower heads off. Overgrown or neglected shrubs can be renewed by cutting them back 1/3. There are often times dead wood inside the shrub that will need to be cut out as they restrict light and can often harbor fungus or disease. Shrub roses and dogwoods are excellent examples of plants that benefit greatly from eliminating the dead wood.
If you have any specific questions regarding pruning flowering shrubs, we at Lake Kountry, Inc. are happy to help answer them. We carry all the high quality products you need to get the job done. Give us a call or stop in today!

 

LAKE KOUNTRY INC. OFFERS A COMPLETE NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS JUST MINUTES FROM ALL OF WESTERN WI INCLUDING; NEW RICHMOND, WI , SOMERSET, WI , AMERY, WI , OSCEOLA, WI ! WE CARRY A FULL SELECTION OF ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, SHRUBS, TREES, WATER PLANTS AND TROPICALS!

How to Care for Perennials – New Richmond WI

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How to Care for Perennials

Early October is a great time for fall cleanup and preparation of your perennials for winter and spring. It is also a good time to take inventory and think about what you have planned for next year.

Fall is a good time to divide or remove any perennials that are crowding, spreading into unwanted areas, forming tight clumps with diminished bloom or that have developed a dead space in the center because if the foliage becomes damaged or the plants look misshapen, all of that will be gone when the plants reappear in the spring.

Hostas, iris, daylilies, rudbeckia and ornamental grasses are some examples of perennials that do well with division. If rain is insufficient you should continue watering until a hard freeze occurs especially with newly planted or divided perennials. There is no need to fertilize until spring.

A question we get asked a lot here at Lake Kountry is this: Should you cut back your perennials in the fall or in the spring?

The answer: It depends. Provided you have selected plants that are hardy for your area there really is no wrong way.

You may want to wait until spring to cut back your perennials. Ornamental grasses and sedum provide winter interest while the seed heads of coneflowers, liatris and joe pye weed provide food for birds. Leaving the foliage on the plant or only slightly pruning it can also help protect and insulate the plant from harsh winter weather. The foliage helps to catch and hold the snow which provides natural insulation to the plant.

Pruning and removing all the foliage from your perennials now will save you work in the spring – we all know how busy spring can be! Some people prefer the” cleaned up” look going into winter and may prefer working outdoors in cooler temperatures.

Fall gardening work should also include removing dead annuals and excess fallen leaves and debris, including dead or diseased foliage from your perennial beds so that they do not harbor disease or pests. This also helps prevent rot and mildew.

If you have any other gardening questions just give us a call here at Lake Kountry, Inc. – we’re happy to help! As always, thank you so much for thinking of us! Happy Fall!

LAKE KOUNTRY INC. OFFERS A COMPLETE NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS JUST MINUTES FROM NEW RICHMOND, WI , SOMERSET, WI , AMERY, WI , OSCEOLA, WI AND ALL OF WESTERN WI! WE CARRY A FULL SELECTION OF ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, SHRUBS, TREES, WATER PLANTS AND TROPICALS!