Pruning Rejuvenates Shrubs and Trees

When you see an overgrown garden, you immediately get an image in your head of how good it could look. The path to that inevitably leads through a radical measure, namely pruning.

Woody plants that have grown to oversized dimensions, are wildly overgrown, and refuse to bloom urgently need a rejuvenation cut for their salvation and for human enjoyment. This is often the case when a garden changes ownership.

To prevent this from happening in your own garden, a timely cultivating cut is the appropriate measure. The romantic lilac, the radiant forsythias, the delicate tamarisks, the fruit trees, and the hedges will thank you. The appearance of a shrub or a tree contributes a lot to the garden's atmosphere. When the plants are well-pruned, you can't even tell they've been touched by hand. Well-maintained, they show their full natural beauty. They let their blossoms sprout profusely, are generous with their fruits, and grow dense and full. Last but not least, they have a harmoniously shaped overall appearance; they are literally in good shape. For evergreen plants and hedges, it is particularly important that their shape is pleasing to the eye. They impress with foliage that can only truly present its splendor when nicely cut.

First, dead, dry, and injured branches must be removed. Their condition can be caused by natural decay, storms, or even insects. Nibbling four-legged friends are sometimes also the cause, from small dogs to unplanned garden visitors like deer. In any case, this condition is neither conducive to growth nor pleasing to the eye.

The next step is to prune branches that rub against each other. Such an overlap can easily lead to injury to one of the two plant participants. Branches that are growing in the wrong direction, heading inwards instead of outwards, are also disruptive, as are those growing uncompromisingly upwards. Those that have reliably and generously yielded fruit for years are also rejuvenated by pruning and can draw new strength.

Finally, it's appropriate to look at the tree crowns. They need light, sunshine, and sufficient air. Therefore, they should be regularly thinned out. Fruit trees, in particular, reward a light and air-permeable structure with tasty yields.

Pruning is always an intervention into a living plant structure. Therefore, tools like hedge shears, pruning shears, or tree saws should always be in good condition. A smooth, angled cut causes the smallest wounds. It should be made so that the shoots grow towards the light, just above a shoot bud. This also prevents the formation of branch forks where harmful substances can develop.

The best time for rejuvenating garden plants is late winter. When nature's spring awakening is just around the corner, pruning wounds heal best and fastest. It's also practical that the branches are bare and no leaves obstruct the view. However, temperatures should be a few degrees above freezing to ensure a clean cut. A frost-free day with dry air is well-suited. Fruit trees, especially, should receive their new botanical haircut in good time; otherwise, their sprouting and thus fruit yield will be jeopardized. Berry bushes are best pruned after harvesting.

If you can't stick to the ideal time, you should opt for early winter. The pruning of woody plants is forbidden in Germany between early March and late September, unless it's a light maintenance trim that doesn't disturb birdlife. This protective measure was primarily enacted for them. If they are nesting, they must be protected in any case, and the plant will have to wait for its new outfit.

Rejuvenation pruning is also worth a try if woody plants have become bare, for example, due to their age. A radical cut is necessary. Many a hobby gardener's heart has bled doing this, but they were later rewarded with new shoots and fresh greenery.