How to Prune EvergreensAn evergreen is a plant that stays 'green' or keeps its leaves throughout the year. This property alone makes it a popular choice because the enduring greenery makes a lovely contrast through the cold winter months. The family of evergreens is extensive and can be a low growing ground cover or a stately tree. Just look around the landscape in wintertime and you'll see green leaves and needles on a surprising number of plants like azalea bushes and pines and junipers. The evergreens many of us are familiar with are the needle varieties often used as foundation plantings around a house. The pruning technique that's best to use on evergreens is tempered with moderation. Their shape can be severely molded but they're best left natural with a bit of selective nipping at branch tips to encourage new fuller growth and at the base of the plant to remove any dead or decaying branches. Use a pruning tool appropriate to the size of the evergreen. A pair of loppers or pruning saw might be needed to cut back ungainly branches but use a pair of shears for trim cuts. To determine the best approach to pruning an evergreen look closely at the spread of its branches. Notice how its needles or narrow leaves grow from each branch and spread out from the main leader stem in a fan-like fashion. The thin needles of a pine are long and spindly while those of a spruce are decidedly shorter. Hemlocks, yews and firs have flat needles. If the evergreen is a tree with a main leader stem don't cut it off because it has a damaging effect on how the tree shape will develop. As you trim away unwanted branches go into the plant and choose a spot where you can conceal the cut behind other branches. Do not cut off the main leader stem because that will have a damaging effect on how the tree shape will develop. And don't make abrupt cuts or drastically whack off branches to any evergreens, make it a gradual trimming so the plant isn't in shock because of your radical pruning. Make each cut on the outside of a side bud to induce new growth next season. If your evergreen has needles and not leaves don't be too heavy handed because needle evergreens don't regenerate themselves as readily. To make the plant fuller and denser remove the tip or 'candle' at the end of a branch. Some of these evergreens are conifers which means they bear cones i.e. pine cones. Conifers in particular require very little in the way of pruning. You can time pruning evergreens so the cuttings can be recycled and used as part of your holiday decorations. Let them sit in a bucket of cold water overnight and then store them (with stems in cold water) in a cool area until you're ready to use them for centerpieces or garlands. They'll remain fresh and green all through the holidays. written by Gene and Katie Hamilton
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