Old wood is that of several seasons growth, not neces- 

 sarily beginning to die, but having passed the stage of 

 most vigorous production of flowering shoots or foliage. 

 "Surplus" wood is that which is over-crowding the plant, 

 or stands in the way of the development of new growth, 

 which will be increased by the space left by its removal. 



Do not feel that the following suggestions must be 

 followed blindly. The most prized thing that you can 

 grow in your garden is individuality. The following 

 "rules" are for the results which in most cases are gen- 

 erally sought. But if you wish to have your plants 

 do for you things they are not generally made to do for 

 your neighbors, by all means persuade them to follow 

 your wishes if you can. Get the general principles clear 

 in your mind, and you can make your own rules — that 

 is the ideal toward which every wielder of the shears 

 should work. 



For the purpose of pruning, the ornamental shrubs 

 should be considered in two general groups: 



First: Those which flower, usually in the spring or 

 early summer, from buds on the wood of the previous 

 season's growth, such as Deutzia, Weigalia, Forsythia, 

 Lilac, and Viburnum. This group should be pruned 

 green directly after flowering. By dormant pruning 

 many of the buds would be sacrificed. 



Second: Those which flower, usually during late 

 summer or in early autumn, from buds on the current 

 year's growth, such as Buddleia, Calycanthus, Hibiscus, 

 and Philadelphus. This group should be pruned dormant 

 before growth begins in the spring. 



The following lists show the common shrubs belonging 

 to each group. 



SHRUBS BLOOMING ON LAST YEAR'S WOOD 

 (Prune Green After Flowering) 



Akebia Bignonia (Trumpet Vine) 



Aristolochia Celastrus (Bitter Sweet) 



Azaleas (Hardy Ghent, Mollis) Cercis Qudas Tree) 



Calycanthus Floridus (Straw- Chionanthus (White Fringe) 



berry Plant) Cornus (Dogwood) 



Barberis (Barberry) Crataegus oxyacantha (Haw- 



thorne) 



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