Trees and shrubs don’t grow like grass. They shouldn’t be trimmed like it either! Groundhog Turf Care provides tree and shrub pruning services that create healthier, more balanced plants.
Shearing Shrubs in the Landscape
Many people confuse shearing with pruning. When you call a landscaping company to trim your bushes, they will usually send someone with shears to shape them. However, woody plants don’t grow like grass. When you cut the top off turf grass, more grows up from the roots. With shrubs, the new growth comes out wherever you make the cut. Shearing shrubs creates a shell of foliage that flushes out with new growth every year, demanding to be trimmed!
Contour Pruning of Landscape Shrubs
There is a better way to prune. When you understand how plants grow, then you understand how to prune them. Contour pruning of landscape shrubs (also referred to as “hand-pruning” or “selective pruning”) involves making cuts back to the interior of the plant. This produces new growth on the interior, balancing the foliage and opening up “holes” in the crown – allowing airflow and light to the center of the plant.
More ventilation and light in the center of the plant means less opportunity for fungus and disease to spread. Also, flowering shrubs have both fruiting wood and vegetative wood, or “suckers.” Knowing which kind of wood to prune out produces better flowering from these landscape plants.
The Cost of Pruning vs. Shearing Shrubs
Perhaps the best benefit of natural shrub pruning is the way the tree or shrub responds to it. Over a period of a few seasons, there is less tip growth – no late summer “flush” – and the plant becomes easier to maintain. It’s even possible to skip a year or two after the plant’s growth is under control! The initial cost of pruning a shrub naturally is more than the price to annually shear it. However, when you consider the cost of biennial contour pruning (every other year) as opposed to the maintenance cost of shearing every year, the costs equal out over time.
FAQs on Shrub Pruning
1. What is a heading cut?
A heading cut removes the top part of a branch back to a bud. This type of cut encourages the plant to activate the buds just below the cut, leading to new branch growth. Heading cuts are commonly used on flowering shrubs and fruit trees to direct growth and shape the plant. They should be limited to no more than one-third of the plant’s total size at a time to avoid excessive bushiness.
2. How do thinning cuts affect plant structure?
Thinning cuts remove entire branches at their point of origin, usually at the main trunk or a larger branch. This technique reduces branch density and improves light and airflow within the plant. Thinning cuts also help direct the plant’s energy to the remaining branches, promoting balanced growth without significantly altering the overall shape.
3. What is the purpose of re-leadering cuts?
Re-leadering cuts involve removing the tip of a main branch above a side branch, allowing the side branch to become the new leader. This cut is used to control the height and direction of growth. For a re-leadering cut to work effectively, the side branch should be at least one-third the diameter of the main branch.
4. How do different types of pruning cuts work together?
Different pruning cuts serve distinct purposes and can be combined for improved plant management. Heading cuts stimulate growth, thinning cuts reduce density, and re-leadering cuts help shape the plant. A balanced combination of these techniques can support healthy development and maintain the desired structure.
5. Why is the branch collar important in pruning?
The branch collar is the swollen area at the base of a branch where it connects to the main trunk or parent branch. When making thinning or re-leadering cuts, it is important to avoid cutting into the branch collar, as it contains cells that help seal the cut and protect the plant from disease. Proper cutting at the branch collar promotes faster healing and reduces the risk of damage.
Contour pruning is available to all Groundhog Turf Care customers. If you want natural-looking plants, we can customize a pruning program for your needs and your budget. Please call our office and request a free assessment of your landscape plants.
Shrub Pruning Service Areas in New Hampshire
We provide Contour Pruning services to any Groundhog Turf Care customer in the following New Hampshire locations. If you don’t see your town listed, give us a call – chances are we can service you!
Southern NH
Manchester NH
