PRUNING HARDY FLOWERING SHRUBS 271 



Rhododendrons and other members of the Erica or Heath 

 tribe are greatly improved by careful thinning of the buds 

 when an unusually heavy flower display is promised, and 

 also by removing all flower heads as soon as the flowers are 

 over. 



Hydrangea paniculata and p. grandiflora should be spurred 

 to within an eye or two of the old wood in March, and the 

 young shoots which follow should be thinned to ten or twelve 

 to each plant if large flower heads are desired. Deutzias, 

 Viburnums, Cornus, Loniceras, Berberis, &c., are all improved 

 by thinning of the shoots, and the same may be written of 

 almost all shrubs. By spurring back 



Wistarias, free-flowering bushes are obtained, and in the 

 case of 



Pyrus japonica, by thinning only. 



Magnolias rank amongst the fe'w shrubs and trees which 

 require little or no pruning. They dislike intensely interfer- 

 ence at root and branch, consequently disturb them as little 

 as possible. The time to prune when any is required is in 

 summer. 



Such shrubs as the coloured-stemmed Willows and .Cornus 

 (Dogwood) are improved by hard pruning, the colour upon 

 one-year-old shoots being richer than on older growths. It is, 

 however, unwise to cut back very old Cornuses ; the better 

 plan is to plant young ones, and prune from the beginning. 

 Some coloured-foliage shrubs, such as the Golden Elder, are 

 improved by an annual cutting back, the colour of the leaves 

 being finer on young, strong shoots than on old wood. 



Root-pruning. This is necessary when too much wood is 

 being made. It is a frequent task in the orchard, and should 

 be performed when leaves are made at the expense of flowers. 

 Growth can be curtailed and the desired object attained by 

 lifting and replanting. If this is impossible, make a trench 

 round the plant and remove some of the strongest roots. 



