Rejuvenation pruning, or hard pruning, involves removing most of a plant or shrub’s stems and branches until it is about six to 12 inches above the soil. It creates a smaller, younger plant that flowers more often. The landscapers and gardeners at Glynn Young’s Landscaping & Nursery Center in Nicholasville, KY, note that not all plants and shrubs benefit from this type of pruning, which should be done every three to five years for the best results. Learn what the experts at this celebrated garden center want you to know about rejuvenation pruning to help you maintain a healthy, vibrant landscape.

Landscapers & Gardeners Explain Rejuvenation Pruning

Benefits

Hard pruning promotes new and healthy growth. It removes dead, dying, and diseased branches while also helping shape the plant or shrub. Any overgrown branches are subsequently removed. It is a great way to keep your plants and shrubs healthy and beautiful for a longer period because they are allowed periods of rejuvenation or revitalization.

The Optimal Time

The best time to trim back many shrubs and plants is in the early spring right before new growth bursts onto the garden scene. Trim back no more than 1/3 of established plants, and take care not to trim back the buds on flowering plants.  Again, pruning in this way is recommended on a three-to-five year interval to avoid severely weakening the plants and increasing their susceptibility to disease and pests. Performing any pruning, rejuvenation or not, in the fall is strongly discouraged because more spores are floating around in the air. Newly-cut branches are vulnerable to these spores and more likely to become diseased.

Maintenance

Fertilizing newly pruned plants and shrubs with organic matter such as compost or rotted manure provides the extra nutrients they require to rejuvenate and become stronger than ever. Keep the plants thoroughly watered, especially if the weather is dry and hot, and observe your garden daily for signs of diseases and pests.

Develop a trimming schedule with the landscapers and gardeners at Glynn Young’s Landscaping & Nursery Center to enjoy the beautiful property you have always wanted. The garden center and tree farm has everything you need to cultivate the landscape of your dreams, including more than 3,000 flowering, shade, and evergreen plants. Call (859) 881-8111 with any questions or visit their website for additional information. Like the Facebook page for the latest tips and nursery news.