Selectively Pruning Evergreen Shrubs – Part 2

 
In the first part of this series I showed you how to selectively prune evergreen shrubs.  Now I’d like to show you one of the greatest benefits of this pruning method.

By selectively pruning your evergreen shrubs you can control their height indefinitely.  Every time you prune you are cutting into the shrub, so the shrub stays the same size, or gets smaller, with pruning.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

In the video above I show you the results of a Japanese Holly that was heavily pruned.  The shrub bounced back quickly and within four months all signs of pruning were gone.

I don’t recommend people new to pruning start with such an extreme example.  If unsure how your shrub will respond prune some of the branches deep into the shrub.  If they don’t grow back there will be enough other branches to fill in.

I have Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata) growing in deep shade and the shrubs are extremely leggy.  Using selective pruning on these holly won’t make them more dense, there isn’t enough light.  The shrubs still look better because the growth is at different levels of the shrub, not all at the tip.

What About Flowering Evergreen Shrubs?

You can selectively prune flowering evergreens too.  The key is to prune right after bloom.  If you prune a flowering evergreen, such as a rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.), that blooms on the last seasons growth too late you can remove the next years blooms.

I hope you’ll try selective pruning, your shrubs will be glad you did.

By John Holden