Basic Rules for Pruning

Believe it or not, spring IS coming, and before you know it, your trees, shrubs and bushes will begin their year’s growth. That’s why it’s important to know when to prune what to assure healthy and beautiful plants year after year. Here are the basics of pruning, brought to you by Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery & Garden Center, in Crystal Lake:

1. If a plant flowers, prune it right after it flowers.
2. If a branch is dead, remove it right away.
3. Prune your evergreens as they are finishing their new growth in the spring. Look for the candle stage on pine and spruce. (The new growth will look like little candles.)
4. Shrubs that are out of control would benefit from rejuvenation pruning; dogwood, viburnum and spirea are good examples. Rejuvenation pruning is trimming the plant down to 12 inches or less in late fall after the plant is dormant.
5. Fruit trees should be pruned in dormancy: apples, cherries and pears in winter; plums and peaches in late February/early March before sap starts to run.
6. Perennials need to be trimmed to right above the ground in spring and all dead material removed. Wait until spring to do major pruning of your perennials, as they will overwinter better. The grasses and sedums especially give a nice show with their colors and textures throughout the winter months.
7. Rose bushes should be pruned in the spring after the rose collars have been removed. Prune any dead (brown/black) branches back to the point where the branch is green. Leave 3-5 good canes.

Some things really do not need to be pruned. Weeping evergreens, such as the Weeping Norway Spruce, should only have dead pieces removed. Hydrangea pruning varies depending on the variety.

Stop in, call or visit Countryside Flower Shop and Nursery website at www.countrysideflowershop.com for guidance on pruning these plants.

Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery & Garden Center : 5301 E. Terra Cotta Ave (Rte 176), Crystal Lake, IL : 815.459.8130 : www.countrysideflowershop.com