How to Prune BushesA hedge is a group of closely planted shrubs or bushes. It can be a short dividing wall of greenery or an expansive spread across a field. Hedging material is usually trimmed upwards of three feet high to shield traffic and noise away from a house. You can use plantings to form a hedge instead of building a fence or barrier between property. A series of Forsythia planted between neighboring driveways, for example, creates a distinct barrier allowing privacy for both of the homeowners. A hedge of shrubs does double duty on an open field by shielding it against damaging driving wind or snowfall while it adds interest to the landscape. And for pure aesthetics a hedge makes a lovely backdrop in any garden setting to showcase flower beds and planting material. Pruning a hedge or an individual shrub involves shaping, thinning and cutting back branches with a pruning shears, a pruning saw or loppers. Use shears for branches up to 1/4-inches in diameter, loppers for branches up to about 3/4-inches and a pruning or bow saw for thicker branches. Pruning shears will give a more natural looking shape. A good pruning job is like a good hair cut; no one should know you just did it, instead a hedge should look well manicured and groomed but not like a buzz saw just scalped it. Pruning involves two basic cuts, thinning cuts at the collar of a branch where it originates and trimming cuts that lead or head off a branch above a bud or side branch in the direction you want the branch to grow. Pruning a shrub also serves to direct its growth and increase its flower or leaf production. When you remove some of the new buds the plant's energy is redirected to the existing buds making them larger. A hedge can be pruned to a natural or 'informal' shape that follows its growth contour. Or a hedge is pruned to a 'formal' stylized shape often with a deep heavy mass of growth at the base of shrub. Your victim might be a row of Holly bushes shielding the entrance to your back door or a fence long wall of privets dividing your property. Before you take cutting tools in hand, stand back from the hedge to get an overview. Whatever the case, prune so the branches at the bottom are wider than at the top so sunlight and air can reach the base of the plant. If the shrubbery is a slow growing variety you might be required to prune only a few branches but for most shrubs you'll find pruning is required every year to maintain a uniform hedge. Sometimes you'll find a hedge is overgrown in one area and bare and gangling in another. The idea is to create a complete dense mass of shrubbery so you'll need to do some selective pruning in places and some shaping and nurturing in others. In general, you should work from the bottom up and from the inside out. This way you clean out the old growth and allow light and sunshine to reach within the shrub. Begin pruning by removing internal branches to break up the dense mass. At ground level remove dead growth on branches and any branches that touch the ground. Also remove shoots that are oddly shaped or ones that cross over other branches. With one hand hold the end of the branch you're removing and in the other, the pruning tool. Work at a comfortable distance without having to reach too far to hold the branch you're working on. Hold the cutting tool next to the main stem so the cutting blade is close to and parallel with the main stem. When pruning a branch cut on a slight angle about 1/4 inch above a bud so the cut leads back to the bud or cluster of buds which promotes more bud growth. When thinning a branch cut it off where it originates at the collar of the branch. Avoid leaving a stub or making a cut flush with the main branch. Always leave a small bump or raised area where a callous will form and help heal the wound. A rule of thumb is to prune when the plants are dormant or when they're not growing. In the fall and winter wait for the leaves of plants to fall and then prune them. Use common sense about when you should prune a hedge. In hot, dry weather with little rainfall don't prune heavily because the shrubbery is already stressed by the unfavorable conditions. written by Gene and Katie Hamilton
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