|
| Pruning:
|
from Roses to Redwoods .... |
specialist pruning service |
|
passionate
about pruning ...
|
| A
wall clothed in foliage & flowers is a joy. Wisteria is notoriously
tricky but with skill one can enjoy a breathtaking couple of weeks
in spring. Unfortunately, the racemes of flowers last only a short
while, but they are worth working & waiting for. |
 |
| |
On this wall
the 'Smoke Bush' Cotinus coggygria is trained round the corner
of the wall giving a real contrast of deep purple circular leaves. |
| |
The
Wisteria (and pooch 'Zero') at Dave's cottage |
|
|
 |
how
not to prune...
Perhaps the greatest
sin against shrubs must be the transforming of the wonderful natural
shapes of different shrubs, into 'blobs'. This happens when they
are attacked by a set of shears or now more usually hedge trimmers. |
 |
|
Here, the
delicate form & foliage of Lonicera newly transformed
into 'blobs'
|
| |
| Laurel,
following a hard prune. |
 |
Laurel (Prunus
laurocerasus) is vigorous & often gets out of control.
Though it is ¦best never to leave such a stumpy plant
as we have here, it grows back so fast that one can forgive
this approach if it really has got to be too much.
In a year or two
this shrub should be natural looking again & manageable
in size. The trick is then to prune each year to keep it,
if necessary, within bounds, without having to resort to this
measure again. |
|
|
Pyracantha.
This wonderfully orange berried, glossy leaved spiny shrub
looks wonderful on a wall. Trained properly, it's fans of
shoots can draw attention away from an ugly wall. Berries
in vibrant orange attract birds & the eye.
Here though,
shears have robbed it of berries, form & flowers for
next year. It looks as ugly at the harled wall behind
it.
|
 |
| An array of different species above are transformed before
ones eyes into one big blob. Visit Edinburgh's Botanic Garden
to see how it should be done. |
| |
The
advantages of sensitive pruning: |
| |
Maximise
the flowering / berrying potential & with it scent
|
| |
Being
able to appreciate the contrasts & natural differences
in colour, texture & form of different shrubs &
trees.
|
| |
The
shrub being able to show itself off to it's full potential
& size.
|
| |
Value
for money! A shrub which is allowed to grow to it's full
size looks great & costs you less in filling the space
with something else, or controlling the weeds. A large shrub
will suppress a lot of weeds.
|
|
|
| |
| Shrubs have an optimum size
they will grow to. Then they stop. Many people are frightened they'll go
on forever but when they have reached maturity with careful pruning they
can look magnificent. |
| |
At Edinburgh's
Royal Botanic Garden, most of the shrubs & trees are not pruned
at all. This way they reach their full natural size, shape & form
without interference. Planting location is important. |
|
| |
| If a shrub is going to be too
large for it's space, realising this early enough & moving it in winter,
only a few feet sometimes, can give it the space it deserves, & you
the joy of watching it fully develop. Be sure to get as large a root ball
as possible & water in well in the new position. |
| |
| A new approach for the 'blobbers':
Prune only when necessary, |
Prune when your shrubs threaten
to engulf a pathway or your trees when they interfere with road ways
or services. It is always best to be one step ahead & tackle the
problem - before it becomes a problem - as the resulting pruning will
not need to be so harsh & will leave a more natural looking result.
|
| |
| Leave the shears & hedge
cutters in the shed: |
If you keep on top of a
creeping Cotoneaster or Juniper before it covers your path, you can
maintain a natural shape by delving deep & taking out the longest
shoots from well within the plant. The cuts will be hidden & those
fronds not cut will leave you a natural looking plant. Don't get the
shears out unless you want to see a hard edge of cut surfaces, many
of which will die back.
|
| |
| Certain shrubs, climbers &
trees have their own specific requirement which sometimes go against the
'general rules' but you can find out about these easily if you can identify
the shrub concerned. eg. Wisteria is best pruned twice each year as it is
so vigorous. Good advice can be found at www.gardenseeker.com/pruning |
| |
| |
Roses
are best pruned twice too because a prune after flowering can
stop rocking of the plant by the autumn winds. This can badly
effect the root ball. If you take off about half the growth, the
wind resistance will be minimised. Prune back to 4 - 5 buds in
the spring. |
|
| |
| The blobs: what to do....? |
If you have a lollipop
Lonicera or a 'blobbed' Berberis the good news is: Do nothing for
a couple of years. After that, depending how often they were 'blobbed'
the centres may benefit from opening out. This is done by reaching
in with the secateurs or loppers & pulling out whole stem where
the plant is most dense. Most pruning should be done after flowering
but see www.gardenseeker.com/pruning
for details on specific plants.
|
| More general rules: |
If you prune in the dormant
period (winter) plants will be vigorous when they come into growth.
Pruning in the growing season tends more to check the plant &
you will not get the same explosion of growth.
|
| |
| Of-course
pruning correctly does take longer & may cost you twice as much each
time. But you see your shrubs all year round. It just has to be worth it.
|
| HOME |
Burgher Chapel
3 Clinton Street
Newburgh
Fife KY14 6DP |
email: dave
mobile: 07970 744986
landline: 01337 841004 |
 |
|
