Pruning is a necessary element in the landscape maintenance process, especially now with spring here. Pruning is necessary for numerous reasons, which includes alleviating freeze damage, promoting new growth, and eliminating any safety issues such as roadway and sidewalk visibility.
Pruning to Alleviate Freeze Damage
Spring is here! Now we can now focus on fixing the damage the cold left behind. For plants that received extensive damage from this winter, it is necessary to prune the burned leaves and stems back to a few inches above the ground. This is important because photosynthesis is unable to take place on burned leaves. Soon, green growth will emerge from the pruned stems.
Pruning to Promote New Growth
Proper pruning also helps promote new growth, and now is the best time to perform such pruning, which is also called spring rejuvenational pruning. Currently, many plants are in the process of emerging from the dormant stage of winter. Pruning the plant now will not cause as much stress as pruning the plant when it is actively growing. If this type of pruning takes place in the summer, then it can cause death since much of the food-making ability and stored water is lost. Removing such portions of the plant now has less effect on the plant since metabolic functions are greatly reduced.
Pruning is important for the overall health and aesthetic appearance of the landscape. It’s also a great activity to welcome spring into your home’s landscape. So, get out your pruners and spruce up your landscape for abundant blooms and healthy plants this upcoming season.