Prune Shrubs Properly

Claire — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:45:33 +0000

Gardening with Nature

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Avoid Pruning Stress

Few things are more irritating than seeing shrubs that the deer have pruned.

However, wrapping them in burlap to help them escape the ravages of these animals who are trying to survive winter’s icy blast is not the answer. Instead, browse our plant database and read our blogs on alternatives to the water-thirsty cedar hedge which is so attractive to deer.

What’s even more irritating is shrubs that have been sheared into box or vase shapes by a lazy landscaper or gardener. On an emotional level, I find it painful to see these trees and shrubs tortured into balls or squares, regardless of their natural form, especially if that natural shape is a particularly attractive one.

Pruning causes stress to the plant and as such should not be done without good reason.

Basic pruning requires little more than the removal of dead, damaged, or diseased wood to maintain the health of the plant.

Especially offensive to me is seeing such shrubs as the Berberis thunbergii, commonly known as Barberry, that have been systematically shorn. Left to grow naturally, barberry has a graceful, weeping form yet little of this is evident when they are badly pruned. You can see how beautiful their natural form is at the Okanagan Xeriscape Association’s Demonstration Garden at 4075 Gordon Dr. in Kelowna. Such careless pruning also eradicates the lovely bright red berries which provide winter interest and food for birds. Sometimes such drastic pruning is done in an attempt to control the size of trees and shrubs because they were improperly planted—either too close to buildings and pathways or under power lines. If you choose the right plant for the right situation, you will eliminate the need for corrective pruning later on. Thousands of dollars are often spent due to poor planning or design, on landscaping that is neither visually appealing nor supportive of pollinators or beneficial insects—an increasingly important environmental consideration.

Sigrie Kendrick is a Master Gardener and Executive-Director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. She can be reached at 778-363-8360 or by email at exec_dir@okanaganxeriscape.org.

The post Prune Shrubs Properly first appeared on Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

Trimming Ornamental Grasses

Mark Godlewski — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 17:01:06 +0000

Article and Photos by Mark Godlewski

The following is largely put together from information provided by Jim Brockmeyer and Muriel Neale as part of their Bluestem Nursery webpage. Both have now retired, but their excellent website lives on with funding for the hosting provided by OXA.

Trimming Cool Season Grasses

Normally you want to trim your cool season grasses in early spring. During the winter, depending on the species and the weather, grasses can create a great deal of interest in your garden. However, you will want to trim all your cool season grasses down to about 3-4 inches above the crown before they start growing in the spring. If you are late and there is significant new growth your best bet is cut down only two thirds of the grass. For thin grasses you may want to use hedge trimmers. Otherwise, a coarsely-serrated knife is the best tool for this. You may be able to pick up an old bread knife from your thrift store. It is also a good idea to wear gloves and long sleeves. Some of the grasses can give you a nasty cut if they slide along your skin.

Fig. 1 – Cutting Tools

A tip regarding cutting back larger grass clumps is to tie one or two bungee cords around it before you start to cut. You want to keep all the stalks and leaves in a tight bundle. This makes it much easier to get rid of the mess later….and a mess there will certainly be if you don’t!

Trimming Warm Season Grasses

There is no great rush to prune these grasses in the spring depending on how they look in your garden. You can wait until late spring. Some warm season grasses such as Miscanthus or Saccharum have very thick stems. Here you will need pruning shears, or a pruning saw to cut them off 4-6 inches above the crown.

Fig. 2 – Warm Seson Grasses in Winter

Trimming Evergreen Grasses

Some Fescues and Blue Oat Grass Helictotrichon fall into the evergreen (everblue?) category. A few people, especially those at landscape maintenance companies, like to cut these grasses back early but that is not the best for the health and shape of the plant. Blue Oat grass responds well to being combed (with a gloved hand) in the fall and maybe again in the spring. The dead leaves and flowers will come loose relatively easily. Some of the tan-coloured leaves will remain until the next season. Some other evergreen grasses and Carex experience a fair bit of dieback in our winters. You can shear back the dead leaf ends in the spring but be careful not to cut back too much into the living part of the plant.

Fig. 3 – A nice variety of grasses in the late summer

Take care to trim your ornamental grasses appropriately to achieve the best long term results.

The post Trimming Ornamental Grasses first appeared on Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

Pruning | Okanagan Xeriscape Association

Prune Shrubs Properly

Gardening with Nature

Avoid Pruning Stress

Trimming Ornamental Grasses

Article and Photos by Mark Godlewski