In The Garden — Winter Pruning
By AMANDA ZAMBRANO
Master Gardener Intern
WARSAW — Sharpen those pruning shears, friends. Pruning season is upon us. Look for a sunny day in the next couple of weeks (late February/early March), and get going.
Here’s my pruning list and a few tips.
Overgrown shrubs. Typically we only prune spring flowering shrubs like lilacs after they have bloomed for the year. However, if you have some that are severely overgrown, late winter is a good time to cut them back significantly. This will reduce or eliminate blooms for a few years, but will contribute to the overall health of your plant.
Summer flowering shrubs. Prune before leaves and buds set for the season.
Non-flowering deciduous shrubs. Anything you’ve chosen for interesting bark or fall color can be pruned this time of year.
Evergreen shrubs. Juniper, yew and the like can be cut back this time of year, before new growth kicks in.
Roses. With a few caveats, this is a good time of year to prune your roses. Cut out anything that has died off during the winter, particularly from your modern hybrid roses. Old-fashioned roses will have little, if any, winter die out. If your old-fashioned roses bloom throughout the growing season, now is the time to prune them. If they bloom only once during the growing season, wait and prune them after they are done flowering for the year.
Deciduous trees. This is a good time of year to get your trees pruned, although you may want to call in a professional company to assist with this process. Especially for very large trees, specialized equipment may be necessary.
Evergreen trees. If you want to get rid of those lower branches of your evergreens, this is a good time of year to do it. General pruning can be done on spruces and firs, but I recommend waiting until mid-summer to prune your pines.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to bear in mind. Make sure your pruning shears are sharp. Dull shears can damage plants and leave them susceptible to disease. If your shears are showing signs of rust you may want to trade them out for a new pair. It’s always a good idea to disinfect your shears to help prevent disease in your landscaping.
Remove all dirt and debris from the shears. Using a 25 percent solution of bleach, a 50 percent solution of rubbing alcohol, or any common household disinfectant, submerge the shears and soak for a minimum of 5 minutes. Rinse with clear water and allow to air dry. You’ll want to disinfect your shears throughout the pruning process, about every 10 plans or every 2 hours. The same process can be used for hedge clippers, chainsaw blades, or any other garden implements.
Amanda Zambrano is the director of advancement at Grace Village Retirement Community. She is a master gardener intern, just learning the ins and outs of successful gardening.
Along with her master gardener volunteering, Amanda serves on the board of directors for the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the Symphony of the Lakes committee and a Kosciusko County Community Foundation scholarship committee. She plays flute for the Symphony of the Lakes and enjoys hand-quilting, baking and reading. She is also an occasional blogger. Amanda lives in Warsaw with her husband Dan and her son Alexander.