subject: Pruning Without Gas Trimmers [print this page] Pruning Without Gas Trimmers Pruning Without Gas Trimmers
Trimming hedges with gas powered hedge shears is hard, back breaking work. Trimmers produce many tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. For areas in the southern part of the US, almost all the shrubs that are planted are maintained by shearing every two weeks to every week. Eliminating gas trimmers will go a long way toward lowering your landscape carbon footprint. But how do you keep hedges small so they do not out grow their space?
First, if the shrub in question needs to be trimmed more that once a year to stay small enough, then you have a plant that should be moved or removed and replaced with a smaller shrub. To keep oversize shrubs in check, selective heavy pruning is necessary to prune back with out changing the shape. Using shears to trim hedges and shrubs is inferior because it produces a plant that has leaves only on the outside and none in the interior to grow and replace old leaves that die due to health or physical damage. Plants need layers of leaves to prevent holes from being opened up when a branch is killed. Naturally shaped and pruned shrubs have a natural look with no damaged leaves. Sheared shrubs have most of their leaves cut to maintain the square or round shape.
These cut and damaged leaves are good places to introduce disease and pests. They love damaged leaves to get past the natural defenses that bark and leaf cuticles provide. Constant trimming of the plants also reduces photosynthesis and leaves the plant unbalanced. This can also make the shrubs prone to pests and disease.
Shaped shrubs have another problem. Because the leaves are along the outside of the shrub, they shade out any leaves that might sprout in the interior of the plant. When the plant is damaged, new shoots have to grow from the deep interior. This takes longer than a natural shrub due to the many layers of branches that can quickly replace missing limbs.
Most shrubs fall into two types. Those that grow from a small trunk and branch out much like a tree, and those that grow from multiple branches from the grounds surface. Aggressive cuts can be made to reduce size and maintain shape. To reduce a plants size without shearing, use hand pruners to take limbs off without changing the shape. This is a delicate process for the beginner. However, with a little practice and guidance you can do this easily. The trick is to learn how the natural growth of the shrub and alter the cuts to match the growth style.
How to Start:
The first thing to do is to SLOW DOWN. Take your time. Look at the plant for a while before you start cutting. You can always still cut more off. The best time to do these types of projects is in the fall or winter. The leaves are off the plant so the branches are more visible. The plant is close to going dormant or is dormant already. When accessing where to cut, look at the general shape of the plant. Is it balanced? Are there competing trunks? Pruning for looks is an art and learned over many years. However, when getting started look for a few key targets:
Basic pruning reduce size
Eliminate crossing limbs and any damaged material. Remember to take it slow and make a lot of cuts over time instead of getting aggressive too soon. Once you get the hang of it you can make deeper cuts to save time and re-shape the shrub if needed.
Dormant shrubs are best to practice on. Being able to see the branching structure without the leaves will help learn proper pruning. When in doubt prune in the winter. Most shrubs have no problem sending out new spring foliage. It's possible to prune off spring flowers too. If the shrub flowers early before or during the leaves push, then prune just after the blooms drop. Next years flowers will be formed during the summer and wait until following spring to bloom.
Shrubs with multiple stems should be pruned like single stem plants. However, long single canes and single branches should be removed too. When removing these branches cut them all the way to the ground. The increased light penetration will encourage new branches from deep in the canopy. This increases the layering of the foliage and a better look for the plant.
If you are able to perform the pruning in the fall, the new shoots will burst out from the old branches the following Spring. Make sure to avoid large diameter cut branches left near elevated porches, patios or walkways. Also make sure all cuts are perpendicular to the branch so no sharp points are left to stab people who might fall on them.
By using these techniques instead of shearing you'll get a stronger plant and eliminate the need for weekly prunings. That means more money and time in your pocket. Because time is money!
