for Auguxl, 1920 



277 



Pruning Ornamental Shrubs 



HENRY J. MOORE 



THOUGH much has been written on the subject of 

 pruning ornamental shrulw, it would still appear 

 that the practice is not generally understood, for we 

 find that in few places the work is properly done. One 

 of the chief reasons that many plantations of shrubs 

 quickly become dilapidated is that a wrong idea of the 

 manner and time of pruning exists, and so the practice 

 has a harmful effect upon their growing and flowering 

 qualities. 



In all pruning operations we must recognize two dis- 

 tinct types of shrubs — (a) those which llower upon the 

 current year's wood and (b) those upon the old or previ- 

 ous season's growth. Usually failure to discriminate 

 between these lead.s to trouble. The operator may un- 

 knowingly cut away the flowering growth annually, and 

 so prevent the beauty of the plantation from developing. 



It is not difficult to distinguish the types. The Hy- 

 drangeas and the Roses are examples of the first men- 

 tioned, and the Lilacs, shrubby Honeysuckles, Weigelas, 

 Viburnums (Snowballs), Deutzias and Forsythias of the 

 latter. Generally those which flower upon the current 

 year's wood should be prujied in Spring, and those on 

 the old wood as soon as flowering is past. There is an 

 exception to this rule of which notice must be taken. 

 Shrubs which bear so-called berries (fruits), even though 

 they belong to the class which flower upon the old wood, 

 should not be pruned after flowering, as this will elimi- 

 nate their Winter's beauty. In this category are ex- 

 amples, as the white and red fruited Snowberries {Svin- 

 phoricarpus raceinosits and vulgaris), Berbcris and de- 

 ciduous species of Eiioiiyniiis. Shnibs which bear these 

 ornamental fruits may be pruned at any favorable time 

 during Winter before the new Spring growth begins to 

 appear. In this case the pruning may be termed "thin- 

 ning," as. only when the subjects are overgrown is a 

 cutting back necessary. To severely prune would remove 

 the desirable fruit bearing growth. 



Pruning shrubs which flower upon the current year's 

 growth. — In mild climates it is a good plan to prune 

 shrubs at once after flowering, but where severe Winters 

 like our ow-n pertain those which flower on growth pro- 

 duced during Spring should not be pruned until danger 

 of heavy frosts is past, otherwise the remaining buds 

 may be injured, which is often the case when bright sun- 

 light succeeds excessive frost. \\'hen this occurs growth 

 may be seriously impaired and the flowers of course be_ 

 correspondingly injured. Usually the lower buds will 

 produce strong flower bearing growth, therefore it is 

 good practice to prune severely in the case of Hydrangeas 

 and many kinds of Roses, unless for some reason large 

 bushes are desired. The way to obtain good blooms of 

 Hydrangea paniculata is to remove the weakest growths 

 entirely, leaving only four or five of the strongest and to 

 cut these back so that only two strong buds arc left at 

 the base of each. When these develop the weakest 

 should be rubbed off. The remaining buds will make 

 strong growth and produce large flowers. 



Pruning shrubs which flower upon the previous sea- 

 son's growth. — Shrubs of this nature which are de])cndent 

 upon the formation of new growth for the following sea- 

 son's flowers should be pruned as soon as the flowers 

 fade. The removal of old flowering wood or branches 

 will favor the development of new growth, and the subse- 

 quent ripening of flowering buds before Winter arrives. 



1 bus a careful removal of the old flowering wood should 

 be undertaken during Summer. In the case of the Lilacs, 

 it is important that this be done before the seeds are 

 formed. 



When pruning shrubs the following simple directions, 

 if followed, may be helpful: Do not leave stubs when 

 removing branches, each undesirable portion should be 

 removed with a slanting cut at its junction with another 

 stem, or just above a bud or joint. If it is necessary to 

 shorten or "head back" the longest stems, do not cut them 

 at the same height. Encourage growth close to the 

 ground rather than at the apex of the shrub. To induce 

 this gradually remove the longest branches. The reason 

 for encouraging young growth is as follows : The strong- 

 est stems grow very quickly to the light, thus the small 

 lateral ones become badly shaded. This may result in 

 partial or full defoliation, and sometimes death, it simply 

 being a case of survival of the fittest. You may have 

 noticed the bare and unsightly stems near the ground 

 while the apex is crowned with leaves. When, however, 

 the stronger stems which are growing out of bounds are 

 removed and the lower lateral ones are encouraged, this 

 unsightliness is rarely apparent. Unless we carefully 

 prune our shrubs dilapidation will quicklv ensue, but 

 where the practice pertains renovation will constantly 

 take place, much to the enhanced appearance of our 

 plantations. 



Briefly, the objects of pruning may be summarized as 

 follows: To encourage the development of vigorous 

 growth and the subsequent production of flowers; to 

 eliminate worthless branches and superfluous growth and 

 thus favor the equal distribution of light, air and moisture 

 to all parts of the shrub: to remove defective parts, to 

 promote growth to replace these and thus assist nature 

 to restore symmetry. 



A\'hen we realize that the Summer pruning of many 

 of the shrubs with which we grace and beautifv our parks 

 and home surroundings is of the greatest importance, 

 our plantations will assume a dift'erent appearance, for 

 we will practice this vital thing. We must, however, be 

 sure that we know the nature of our subjects and not 

 prune the shrubs which like the Hydrangea and the Rose 

 flower upon the current year's wood and should not be 

 pruned until Spring. Xow is the time to start renovating 

 the millions of shrubs all over this fair land. Unless 

 Summer pruned, they will never blossom in their fullness. 



Primarily, the whole trouble with the I'nited States 

 is the lack of deep, whole-souled relig-ion, — a religion 

 that makes every man realize his responsibility to other 

 men ;ind to the world and to Almighty God : a religion 

 that makes every man realize thai until he has, in his 

 own thought, put himself in the other man's place, and 

 then treated the other man as he would, under like cir- 

 cumstances, wish to be. treated, he has failed to follow 

 divine leadershij). Until all people accept the religion 

 of Christ in this sjjirit, no universal panacea can be found 

 for jiresent conditions. There must come a widespread 

 and almost universal revival of religion, pure, and undc- 

 filed, or we cannot hope for the settlement of all the prob- 

 lems which now confront our country. — Manufacturers' 

 Record. 



