Perfect Time to Prune Your Shrubs

March 31, 2008
I was reading that now is the time to prune trees and shrubs. Just as they are beginning to leaf out, pruning is considered to give them a good boost to future growth.
Here are a few tips from Lee Reich who wrote "The Pruning Book."
Use a light hand. Prune young trees as little as possible.
Cut away water sprouts and root sprouts.
Usually you can use a heavier Hand on bushes. Avoid hedge shears unless they are trained into formal shapes. Lop oldest stems to the ground to make way for young sprouts.
Fruits are special. Almost all fruit plants need regular pruning. The amount depends on where the plant bears its fruit. (Apple trees fruit on old growth, Peaches on new growth. Raspberry cane dies at the end of the second year, so completely cut away all old canes; let those that remain be six inches apart.)
For all plants - Don't cut unless you absolutely need to. Tailor each cut to where you want increased branching or shorten a stem or to thin the gnarl of branches.
The past weekend weather was so perfect, I actually did some pruning and cutting back and it was a s
satisfying chore.