How to Get Your Shrubs Spring-Ready

Your home's landscape design might benefit considerably from adding well-maintained shrubs and hedges. But ignoring them will make your house appear untidy and will have a detrimental effect on the way your yard looks overall.

Many homeowners put off chores like pruning and trimming hedges because they are concerned that they do not realise how to perform the work properly and don't feel like wasting effort on something that may cause more harm than good if it is not done correctly.

In point of fact, anyone who is up to the challenge can work as a hedge trimmer. You only need to get the appropriate equipment and put in some effort to gain an understanding of the more nuanced aspects of hedge trimming. Investing in the greatest battery-powered hedge trimmer as part of your toolkit is the surest way to ensure that your vegetation will be in pristine condition.

Where do I start?

To get started, remove any wood that is dead, dying, damaged, deformed, or infected with the disease. This is something that can be done at any period of the year. Remove all of these branches and twigs until you reach healthy timber or until you reach the ground. After that, search for twigs or branches that are entangled with one another and rubbing against one another. Take out one of them and keep the one that is healthier or is located in a better spot.

When dealing with a large deciduous shrub that has become overgrown and has a large number of stems, it eliminates the oldest stems by cutting them all the way down to the ground. To keep the shrub at its best, prune it annually, taking off roughly a quarter of the stems.

How to Determine Which Shears Are Best for Cutting Hedges

It is possible that the amount of effort and time you put into a task can be significantly reduced if you have access to the appropriate trimming tools. Additionally, it affects the overall quality of the outcomes you achieve.

For the absolute bare minimum, you will require a set of hand pruners to carry out the pruning. However, if you need to cut thick branches, it is helpful to have a set of loppers, as well as a small pruning saw or oscillating equipment. This is because cutting large branches can be difficult.

You have the option of cutting your hedges with hedge shears, an electric or battery-powered hedge trimmer, or a combination of the two. Hedge clippers that are electric or battery-powered have various advantages over traditional manual hand shears, yet there are still some people who prefer using hand shears. The most effective corded and battery-powered hedge trimmers will simplify the process, allow you to complete the task in a shorter amount of time, and make it easier to make cuts that are cleaner and straight. Special trimming equipment that can be used for various purposes is the 4.5 AMP 24" Rotating Head Electric Hedge Trimmer. It is corded and powered by electricity.

These wireless models should be suitable for use in the majority of households if you decide to purchase a hedge trimmer that is powered by a battery. They are simple to operate, and the length of your reach while working is not constrained by a cable. If you choose a device that requires a cord, you will have the distinct advantage of not being concerned about the battery running out. The most effective battery-powered hedge trimmers, on the other hand, can operate for a considerable amount of time on a single charge.

The Worx 40V Cordless 20" Hedge Trimmer is an excellent choice for use in the majority of gardens. This battery-powered hedge trimmer is easy to handle because it is lightweight and has good balance. This makes it suitable for both top trimming and side trimming of hedges. The runtime provided by the 40V battery ought to be more than sufficient for trimming the hedges that are located on the majority of residential homes.

Before you need them, make sure that all of your garden tools are in good working order by inspecting them or calling our experts, which have all the needed equipment. This covers activities such as cleaning tools, eliminating rust, and honing blades. You will avoid a headache in the future if you take the time now to replace any broken tools. It's a good idea to give your lawnmower a once-over right now to ensure it's in good working order and has enough gas for the upcoming warm weather.

Important safety factors to keep in mind when working outside

When working outside, taking precautions to protect one's health and safety is absolutely necessary for anyone who likes to get their garden design ready for spring. It is essential to protect oneself from the risk of damage posed by sharp instruments and debris by wearing safety equipment such as gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when working in the area.

When working with power tools, it is essential not only to be aware of the risk of receiving an electric shock but also to check that the electrical wiring has been established and is being maintained in the correct manner. When working outside, it is essential to be conscious of the local weather conditions, as elements such as wind and precipitation can create potentially hazardous conditions.

Last but not least, it is essential to have an awareness of the potential dangers that might be posed by working in close proximity to plants, shrubs, and hedges, such as allergies and toxic plants. These safety measures might be helpful in ensuring that a spring garden landscaping job is both safe and successful.

Where do I cut?

Only two distinct types of cuts are necessary for pruning: heading cuts and thinning cuts. When making heading cuts, you should trim back shoots or branches until you reach stubs, buds, or tiny lateral branches. In most cases, the plant will respond to these wounds by vigorously growing new foliage that is bushy. Heading cuts include activities such as shearing a hedge, pinching off the tops of plants to induce branching, and deadheading flowering plants, among other similar activities.

A thinning cut involves the removal of a branch all the way back to its point of origin or to a side branch that is at least one-third the diameter of the limb that is being removed. The natural look of the plant is preserved after the thinning cuts are made during pruning.

When cutting a twig or branch back to the tree's trunk or to a lateral branch, it is essential to cut at the precise location shown by the diagram. You should search for a raised bump or circles around the base of the branch or twig, and when you find one of these features, you should be careful to cut slightly outside it so that the ring remains intact. This area, which is referred to as the branch collar, is where the scar tissue will grow to cure the wound.

How do I remove heavy branches?

It is essential to minimise the wound size while performing any trimming. When removing a big limb, using the three-cut procedure will help prevent the tree's bark from ripping down the tree's trunk.

• Starting 6-12 ", cut about 1/3 of the way through the bottom of the branch, using a pruning saw to make the incision from the trunk outward.
• Cut through the whole limb around 12–18 inches out from the trunk and 6–7 inches from the undercut. After this, there should be a 12–18 "stub.
• Your free hand should be used to prop up the remaining stub. Cut downwards from the top, stopping just beyond the bulge or ring where the branch joins the tree trunk.

When should I prune bushes that produce flowers?

The timing is determined by the blooming period of your plants. Generally, the best time to prune summer-flowering shrubs is in the spring, while spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned in the summer. Why? Flower buds are formed in the summer on shrubs like lilacs and forsythia that bloom in the spring and early summer. This occurs one year prior to the flowering season. You will remove the potential for them to produce flowers if you trim them in the autumn, spring, or winter. When the plants in this group have finished flowering in the early summer, it is time to prune them.

Roses and butterfly bushes are examples of shrubs that generate flower buds on their current season's growth in preparation for their summer blooming period. In order to stimulate robust new growth and a profusion of blossoms, it is best to perform any necessary pruning on these plants while they are dormant in the late winter to early spring.

Because flowers are produced on the plant's new wood, the PeeGee hydrangea can be clipped in the early spring.

Hydrangeas are a source of worry. When should I start cutting those back?

Some hydrangeas bloom on growth from the previous season, so they need to have their branches cut in the spring. These include H. arborescens 'Annabelle' and H. paniculata cultivars with blooming times ranging from the middle to the end of summer, such as PeeGee, Pink Diamond, and Limelight.

Oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangea, notably Nikko Blue and every other pink- and blue-flowering variety, produce flowers from buds that were planted the year before. Only prune them in the summer, and do it before August if possible, if they need to have their size or shape maintained by pruning. The so-called ever-blooming hydrangeas, such as those in the Endless Summer collection, ought to be handled in the same manner.

How do I prune evergreens (conifers)?

The vast majority of conifers and needled evergreens require very little pruning other than removing the 5 Ds. If you absolutely must prune them, the best times to do so are in the spring and summer. When to prune a conifer and how to prune it depends on the kind of fir. Whorls of branches form around the stems of coniferous trees, including spruce, pine, and fir. Pinch off the fragile tips of the new growth before the needles have a chance to develop and become rigid. Do not make any cuts in the old wood. It is not possible for it to sprout from new buds. Do you need a professional arborist to take care of your trees for your home or business? We understand that taking care of your trees properly can be difficult - call us.

Trees such as the arborvitae, juniper, false cypress, and yew have more irregular branching and are able to sprout new growth from older wood. New spring growth should be pinched, pruned, or sheared, and twigs should be returned to the branch.

When should I trim plants that will produce fruit?

The latter part of winter and the beginning of spring, when fruit trees are still dormant, is the ideal time to prune them. Establishing a strong branch structure that can hold the weight of the fruit while still allowing light and air to penetrate the canopy is the objective here. The optimal branching structure shifts and adapts based on the variety of fruit as well as the dimensions of the plant (full-size, semi-dwarf or dwarf).

What Should Not Be Cut

Oak trees, elm trees, honeylocust trees, and sycamore trees are particularly prone to Oak Wilt, Anthracnose, Dutch Elm Disease, and Stem Cankers, respectively, and should NOT have their branches pruned in the spring. When these plants are entirely dormant, winter is the best time to prune them, and you should only prune them if it is absolutely necessary.

Advice On How To Get Your Shrubs Ready For The Spring Season

After being subjected to the severe conditions of winter, your trees and shrubs, just like you, require some tender loving care.

Getting your trees and shrubs ready for spring involves a few simple steps, which are as follows:

1. Rejuvenate by Making Careful Cuts and Cuts That Are Selective

The old must go, and the new must take its place! During pruning, you will remove any old branches that are diseased, broken, or otherwise unhealthy. When many of your shrubs and trees are still dormant in the late winter or early spring, the greatest time of the year to refresh them is when they are in their dormant state. You have better visibility of the older wood, and you are able to mould the plant into the desired shape before the buds form. When the weather gets warmer, pruning is an easy task that is absolutely necessary for shrubs and trees because it stimulates rapid new growth, which in turn boosts both the plant's resilience and adaptability.

Trees and bushes that flower in the summer should have their pruning done in the early spring, while those that flower in the spring should have their pruning done immediately after the flowers have faded. Additionally, fruit trees such as apples, cherries, lilacs, and plums can have their branches cut in the spring. Be careful not to prune them too severely; give them a gentle cleaning and work on opening up the centre of the tree so that more light and air can pass through the entire structure. Examine the tree to see if any of the branches are growing at an unusual angle or are tangling with one another. When branches of the same tree rub against one another, the tree suffers an injury and becomes more susceptible to pests and disease.

Additional plants that can be pruned in the spring include beautyberry, butterfly bush,  spireas, hydrangeas (including smooth leaf, Peegee, and panicle kinds), and St. John's Wort.

Take into consideration the following advantages that result from appropriate pruning:

• The production of flowers and fruits is boosted as a result.
• Enhances the overall appeal to the eye
• Fosters both the growth and the health of the plant.
• Helps decrease the risk of branches becoming sagging.
• Helps to preserve the form and structure of beautiful plants.

2. Learn When to Fertilize Your Plants

When plant health is poor, it is typically a sign that the soil needs to be fertilised to restore the micronutrients that are lacking in the soil. These micronutrients include phosphate, nitrogen, and potassium. However, fertiliser is not always the solution to the problem. It is actually detrimental to the health of trees and shrubs to fertilise them if they are already getting all of the nutrients they require from the soil. Before you fertilise your trees and shrubs, it is important to check for the following indicators of nutrient deficiency to prevent causing harm to your plants and wasting money on unneeded fertiliser:

• Retardation in the growth of plants is manifested by leaves that are smaller than usual and a reduction in the production of branches, twigs, or flowers.
• A change in the leaf's colour or an increase in the rate of leaf loss.
• The trees and bushes were just recently transplanted, and they are in the process of establishing their root systems at the new location.

3. Rearrange the Bushes You Already Have.

After you have reintroduced life to your soil, you can replant shrubs or bushes that did not thrive during the previous season in other parts of your garden, or you can even add new types of plant life. Make your backyard look exactly as you want it to! The soil prior to spring is typically moister, which makes it simpler to move young shrubs and trees before they reach their full size. Include some spring flowers in your landscaping to match the trees and bushes you already have. These early spring blooms will add the right splash of colour to any setting.

4. Take Care of the Weeds and Mulch Again

Don't give the weeds any advantage in the race to your beds! The weeds are easier to pull at this time of year because their roots are closer to the surface, the soil is moister, and the weeds are developing more slowly. After the weeds have been removed, you should also eliminate any old mulch or leaves and then apply a layer of fresh mulch. This layer not only protects you from weeds that may appear in the future but also helps your shrubs and trees retain the necessary amount of moisture.

5. When you're in need of assistance, give a qualified person a call.

Certain types of pruning are hazardous and should be left to specialists who are trained, licensed, and insured. If any of the following apply:

• There are power lines nearby, as well as trees or branches that could potentially fall onto a building or onto the roadway. Help can be obtained by calling the road maintenance department or the utility company.
• The limbs cannot be reached with a pole pruner when working from the ground level. Never use a chainsaw while climbing a ladder or a tree. Ever.
• The work calls for the use of power tools. When you prune a tree improperly, you risk injuring both the tree and yourself.
• The work is difficult, and you have little experience in the field. Most companies that specialise in landscaping provide pruning services for jobs of any size.

Summary

It's crucial to identify each shrub or bush before you prune. Find a neighbour who can assist you if you are unsure of what it is, or bring a branch to a nearby garden centre so an employee can identify it for you. It is much simpler to recognise a shrub or hedge when it is in its growing season; make a plan for the work that will need to be done on the plants in the next year by recognising them this summer.

Why? There are some bushes that should not have their pruning done in the spring. After they have finished blooming, spring bloomers like magnolias and lilacs should typically have their branches clipped. If you prune the plant in the spring, you will most likely remove the dormant buds, resulting in the plant producing no blooms. When it comes to these early-blooming shrubs, all you need to do is look for dead or broken wood and cut it away.

Pruning is an intimidating topic for many gardeners. But with the right information and sharp tools, you'll be ready to make the cuts.