Pruning permanent framework

Generally assume regular shape

Ceanothus „Julia Phelps‟ Pieris „White Cascade‟

Many of these plants form a dome-shaped canopy

Remove:• dead• damaged

Cistus „Silver Pink‟

LavenderLavandula spp.

Removal of errant shoots help shape

“Cubist” pruning is common…

Or, the meatball variation…

Think about flowering time before pruning!

Pittosporum tenuifolium„Silver Sheen‟

Shearing removes form, but hopefully not flowers…

Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree)

avoid pruning until afterrisk of severe freeze

Buddleia nivea

Pruning subshrubs

have woody base, but bloom

on current season‟s shoots

some become larger and morewoody in mild climates

Small subshrubs which may be sheared:

Epilobium canum

Penstemon pinifolius

Remove most shoot growth to base

August 2010

January 2011

Before…

After…

Larger subshrubs…

Caryopteris x clandonensis

Perovskia atriplicifolia

Spiraea

Large subshrubs

Buddleia „Pink Delight‟ Heptacodium miconioides

Remove dead stems, prune hard in spring

Lavatera: early spring 10 minutes work!

Note where cuts made…

Look how much growth is removed!

Later…

Heptacodium miconioides

Suckering shrubs

Rhus typhina „Laciniata‟

Naturally thicket-forming plants

Includes:• Aralia spp.• Clerodendrum spp.• Kerria japonica• Rhus spp.• Rubus spp.• Symphoricarpos spp.• Syringa vulgaris• Zenobia pulverulenta

Dig suckers Use barriers

Pruning Conifers

For pruning purposes, there are two types:

Needle-like leavesWhorled branches

Scale-like foliageRandom branches

Needle-foliage Conifers: Pine Family

Abies: The Firs

Cedrus: True Cedars

Picea: The Spruces

Pinus: The Pines

Pseudotsuga: Douglasfir

Tsuga: The Hemlocks

Abies pinsapo „Glauca‟

When sited correctly, rarely need pruning

Pinus thunbergii „Thunderhead‟

The biggest mistake: pruning into un-needled growth

Pine Family

Do not cut into old, un-needled parts of stem!

To dwarf plant and fill incanopy, pinch back newgrowth at “candle” stage

Candles on pines are easily broken at this stage

Candle pruning makes a conifer…

dwarfer

bushier

Some conifers revert as well…

Alberta spruce

Scale-foliage Conifers: Cypress Family

Calocedrus Incense Cedar

Chamecyparis Hinoki Cypress

Cupressus Monterey, Italian Cypress

X Cupressocyparis leylandii Leyland Cypress

Juniperus many, many species/forms

Thuja Arborvitae, Western Redcedar

Cypress family plants respond well tolight trimming and make good hedges

Don‟t prune intoolder un-needledparts of plant!

Effects of hard pruning:

Cutting back hedge

Limbing up too-big shrub

Conifers that respond to cutting to older wood:

Taxus: Yews

Cryptomeria:Japanese cedar

Sequoia: Redwood

Pruning Vines

Wisteria Jasminum x stephanense

rampant growing permanent framework

many thin canes cane-grower

Pruning need depends on vigor, climbing habit…

Consider the climbing habit of the plant:

Non-clinging plants: Roses

Twining growth habit:

ClematisHumulusLonicera

Tendrils:

AmpelopsisPassifloraVitis

JasminumTrachelospermumWisteria

Clinging vines

Campsis (aerial rootlets)

(will also sucker)

Hydrangea anomala (aerial rootlets)

Hedera (aerial rootlets)

Parthenocissus (tendrils)

Schizophragma (aerial rootlets)

Little or no pruning required

The support structure and vine must match!

Climbing roses

A trellis can be very simple…

Old trees make a goodmakeshift trellis, too

Climbers-modern:

Rambling Roses

annual cane production train stems flat remove flowered stems thin/shorten excess canes

very tall bush roses, repeat renew framework regularly

Climbing roses

Spreading out stems horizontally encourages branching

Climbing Rose:„Westerland‟

Modern Climberi.e. blooms on new wood

Early spring…

Later…

Rambling Rose„Dorothy Perkins‟

Once-blooming

June 2004

Sept. 2004

July 2005

July 2006

For a full arbor youwill need to plant onboth sides

Twining vines

Clematis armandii

As with other vines,match the vine withavailable space

Over time, many twining climbers form a “mushroom”

Jasminum x stephanense

Or, the shape of a TV antenna…

Young vines: shoot placement

Lonicera japonica

In bloom, June

After pruning

Pruning vining Clematis

For pruning purposes, 3 “groups”based on flowering time:

Spring: (Group 1)C. armandii, C. montana

Summer-Fall: (Group 3)C. x jackmanii, C. texensisC. paniculata, C. viticella

Repeat bloom: (Group 2)Large-flowered hybridsC. „Nelly Moser‟

A simple trellis…

Pruning Clematis-Group 1 and 2

Pruning vines: Clematis Group 2 (and 1)

Remove weak growths

Thin stems to well—spaced framework

Pruning Clematis-Group 3

Pruning Clematis Group 3

Prune low to a pair ofstrong buds early spring

Remove dead stems

Training Wisteria

Trees make handy trellises…

Brickell and JoyceDK Publishing, 1996ISBN 1-56458-331-7

Brown and KirkhamTimber Press, 2004ISBN 0-88192-613-2

Cass TurnbullSasquatch BooksISBN 1570613168

Other references:

PlantAmnestyhttp://www.plantamnesty.org/

Pruning tips

PNW-International Society of Arboriculturehttp://www.pnwisa.org/

Pruning information Publications Lists of Consulting Arborists

The End!

Ceanothus griseus „Kurt Zadnik‟