Trimming your bush

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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Seriously.....When do you prune your bushes and shrubs. Should I wait till spring to cut back my Holly's and Azaleas? or should I do it before the growing season? I missed the fall season and I don't want to kill them.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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I don't suggest that you prune them in the middle of winter because the plant will not be able to heal at the cut correctly due to freezing temps. Just wait until the first month of spring when the buds become visible, then cut.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: rbloedow
I don't suggest that you prune them in the middle of winter because the plant will not be able to heal at the cut correctly due to freezing temps. Just wait until the first month of spring when the buds become visible, then cut.

 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: aircooled
Seriously.....When do you prune your bushes and shrubs. Should I wait till spring to cut back my Holly's and Azaleas? or should I do it before the growing season? I missed the fall season and I don't want to kill them.
You can trim the bush at any time of the year, but it is best to do in late fall or winter, because the will spurt quickly through the spring to make up for the lost. There are a few exception such as pine.

Fruit tree are generaly prune in the late spring, because you can tell which branch have more buds to keep.

Winter is some what the best time to prune, because the bugs are dormant and are less likely to attack or burry themselves into the plant wound.

Try calling your local nursery and ask them for tips on trimming/pruning.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
roses you trim the week after the superbowl


I'll be planting roses later this year. Right now all I have is Holly's and Azaleas. (Plus my Crape Myrtles, but I have them under control).

 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: aircooled
Originally posted by: ElFenix
roses you trim the week after the superbowl


I'll be planting roses later this year. Right now all I have is Holly's and Azaleas. (Plus my Crape Myrtles, but I have them under control).
Definately check with your local nursery before triming back the Azaleas, because you can kill it or stun it growth for a few years if you cut it back too hard.

PS. Azalea is one of my favorite flowering plant due to it semi geometric growth patern.
 

huey1124

Golden Member
Sep 19, 2000
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personally, i prefer that my girlfriend trim the bush rather than me. girls are more attentive to detail, and bush looks nicer when she does it. she says it can be irritating at times, but we agree the bush looks nicer and attractive when it's trimmed.

 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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Originally posted by: Storm
The deer trim our bushes in front of our garage :(.

free trimming :) Bad evil deer. But Venison jerky = good.
 

Darein

Platinum Member
Nov 14, 2000
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We cut the roses off the rose bushes, but everything else just grows into the jungle.
 

HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
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My gardeners just trim everything whenever they feel like it. Luckily there isn't much growing around my house any more.