PRUNING OF SHRUB TREES

Pruning is both a skill and an art. The skill is in making cuts that Callus (Form a thickened tissue that seals off wounds) properly and minimize the chance for decay. The art is in making cuts in the right places so that the plant takes on a handsome form and is prolific if grown for flowers or fruit. The cutting off leaves or branches within limits in order to remove dead or diseased foliage or branches. Also used to control or direct growth, increase quality or yield of flowers or fruit and to ensure growth position of main branches to enhance structural strength. This article I would like to share my knowledge in 'Anim Agriculture Technology' about the pruning of shrub trees activities as an important part in agriculture technology. 

As you noticed, many small shrubs such as Lavender and Hibiscus species grown in Malaysia are generally short-lived and will need replacing after 10 years or so. These shrubs flower on new wood, so pruning these plants annually will improve flowering and extend their life and prevent them from becoming too woody. Larger shrubs, such as rhododendrons, generally require very little pruning, except for the removal of unhealthy, dead, diseased and damaged shoots. Likewise, slow-growing shrubs also require little or no regular pruning, except the removal of unhealthy shoots in mid-spring. Formal shrubs can be clipped as for hedges.

When to prune evergreen shrubs?From my experience, you can prune most evergreen shrubs just before growth all year round but it is risky during dry spell or monsoon season has passed. In temperate country unlike Malaysia, the pruning activity at this time will avoid frost damage to new shoots whereby any pruning scars will be concealed by new growth. Evergreens that are still flowering or about to flower in mid-spring can be left until flowering has finished. Hedges may have specific pruning times.

How to prune evergreen shrubs ?When pruning any evergreen shrub (except old, overgrown shrubs, see below), aim to remove about one-third of older wood in total. Prune out any diseased, damaged or dead shoots using long-handled loppers or a saw if necessary And finally, thin out crowded shoots and any badly positioned ones that spoil the shrub’s appearance. After pruning, plants benefit from mulching and feeding. Use either a general-purpose fertilizer or specialist rose or other high-potassium fertilizer

Unlike in Malaysia, the pruning activities in temperate country divided evergreen shrubs into three groups on the basis of timing and type of pruning required:

1. Early flowering evergreen shrubs Timing: Prune immediately after flowering. 
Examples: Berberis,Choisya, Hypericum,Mahonia, Pieris, Azalea (Rhododendron), Viburnum tinus. Pruning: Winter, spring and early summer-flowering evergreens such asRhododendron and Camellia are best left unpruned except for removal of unsightly shoots and deadheading, unless some shaping is required. Do this by lightly cutting back shoots after flowering. Deadheading and removal of dead, damaged and diseased growth can be done at the same time. Exceptions: Certain evergreen shrubs require a harder prune to increase flowering or to maintain their attractive shape. Examples include groundcover such as Mahonia aquifolium and Hypericum calycinum which look best sheared over in spring. Deciduous Viburnum also fall within pruning group 8.

2. Late flowering evergreen shrubs

Timing: Prune mid- to late spring. Examples: Eucryphia, laurels (Prunus laurocerasus and P. lusitanica). Pruning: This group of evergreen shrubs bloom in summer and late autumn on the previous or current year's growth. They need little pruning. Prune lightly removing unsightly shoots as required. Those shrubs recommended for hedges, topiary or foliage often tolerate heavier pruning.

3. Evergreen shrubs  Timing: Prune immediately after flowering where flowering is on the previous year's growth, or in the subsequent early to mid-spring if flowering is on the current year's growth.
Examples: Bouvardia, Heather (Calluna), Erica, Helianthemum, Hyssopus, Ruta, Santolina, Thymus, gorse. Pruning: This group of evergreen shrubs flower on the previous year's growth in spring or early summer, or on the current year's growth in late summer and autumn. Remove shoots that have flowered to within 1.5-2.5cm (¾-1in) of the previous year's growth. Exceptions: Certain deciduous shrubs such as Potentilla fruticosa also fall within this pruning group. 

Renovation of neglected shrubsIf you inherit a garden full of neglected shrubs or have a plant that is overgrown and choked with branches, you can try to rejuvenate it by pruning. Some shrubs can be severely pruned just as growth begins in mid-spring. Spotted laurel (Aucuba), box (Buxus), camellias, Choisya, Euonymus, hollies, Pieris, laurels (Prunus laurocerasus and P. lusitanica), Viburnum tinus and yew all tolerate severe pruning to near ground level. Other evergreens are often best renovated over several years, removing one-third to half of shoots to ground level, and reducing all other shoots by one-third in the first year. Over the next couple of years, each year remove half of the older shoots to ground level. Following renovation apply a general-purpose fertilizer and mulch and avoid drought stress in the following season.

By,

M Anem

Putrajaya,

Malaysia

(6 Muharram 1434H)