David Combs wrote:

Thanks much for those two suggestions!

Now I can go back to work!

David


FIRST-PS: Oh, I've been reading that you're supposed to hold
off pruning until the end of winter or during the early
spring.

What problem from doing it at other times, eg now?

David



Depends on the plant .. some should be pruned after blooming, as new
growth has
to go through a freeze cycle in order to bloom. Pruning too late can
cause new growth
to freeze and die.


SECOND-PS: When wallking my doggie (super cute bijon) I often
notice short hedges (4 feet high, 5 feet?) in which, you know,
the leaves on these hedges, so as to get the sun, grow only
on the outside "surface", with only "naked" branches on the
"inside".

Looks like what happened sometimes is that bushy-leafy end
protruded out beyond (into the sidewalk, maybe), and they
pruned off the extending-out-too-far part, leaving


That sounds like plants that have not been pruned at all, only clipped
in the same
place for many seasons. Trimming to a geometric shape rather than
pruning to
a natural shape will eventually cause new growth only on the surface.
The effect
of cutting at the end of the limb on most plants causes new growth at
the bud
just behind the cut, which in turn shades the rest of the plant and
prohibits new
growth lower down the limb.

We have hedges around our condo, about 40 years old, which developed very
thick limbs because of this. We had to really mutilate them, cutting
back some
of the thick limbs to the stump, to get them to fill in decently. Most
should be
PRUNED about every 2 or 3 years in order to keep new growth coming along.

just a, well, "stick" (no leaves anywhere nearby)
going back to a "parent" (often the bushes' "trunk") --
looks horrible.

So, you're (well, one of you is) saying that they
should have cut off the entire branch, back at its
origin.

(assuming no branch-points leading to leafy branches on
other parts of the "surface".)

Yes? (I'm just trying to verify (or disprove) my understanding
of your suggestions.)


Not all shrubs/bushes/small trees should be pruned with same methods.
Best to
get info specific to the variety - lots of info on extension service
websites.


THANKS!


David