FELCO folding saw and by-pass pruners, Fiskars scissors, Wonder Grip gloves, ACE Hardware tool belt, Cutters bug repellant are the tools I take with me out into my gardens in the woodland to 'reduce prune' by hand in June. The mini loper is something I picked up years ago but have no idea where and who manufactures them.
I have a few shrubs that require pruning in June. The lush spring growth is looking like the garden is having a bad hair day. I keep a couple of large shrubs on my driveway shaped to give entry-gate structure to the wildness of the woodland edge.
Because we had a cold winter and slow melting icy snow pack combined with a super rainy spring is seems like some plant growth exploded. Lonicera fragrantissima stems grew almost three feet this year.
Abelia Chinensis and Jasminum nudifolium's 'hair' are standing on end!!!
I like a loose and natural look to the shrubs I shape at this time of year but not this loose. I use hand clippers not pruning sheers. This cuts the size of the plant by 1/4 to 1/3 (which is all that should be taken at any time.) Literally, by the time I'm finished, it is difficult to tell that the plant has been touched. To 'reduce prune' one starts by reaching past the offending wild whip into the shrub, finding a growth node or place where it has grown from old wood snipping it in that location. As you go in and out of the surface the trimming takes on a natural softness. Remember that where ever you cut two new branches will grow from that cut. That is why sheering (while appropriate in some garden schemes) shrubs will eventually result in tight outside growth and will have skimpy or no growth near the oldest trunks. Rejuvenating shrubs that have been sheered can take three or more years to return the shrub back to a natural look.
I filled 4 wheel barrows in 2 hours with hand trimmings from Callicarpa, Kerria, Spirea, Jasminum nudiflorum ( it actually was climbing 5' up into my Magnolia 'Susan'), Abelia chinensis, a couple of Viburnums: V. propinqum. V. dilitatum, V. awabuki 'Chindo' and Carolina Cherry Laurel, Acer palmatum, and Ternstroemia gymnanthera.
I began shaping a pair of Abelia chinensis fifteen years ago into large comfortable mounds. It only takes 15-20 minutes to snap the straight-up whips of these two shrubs to get them ready for their summer show of tip-end flower balls that with this type of pruning treatment cascade over the whole shrub. Flanking the gravel driveway the pair welcomes and says goodbye to visitors.
Above is Abelia chinensis in it's July finery of bloom. This is one of my 'go-to' plants when I am designing. www.customlandscapesnc.com. It takes full sun to part shade ( morning or afternoon.) I use it as a substitute for Buddlea. Butterflies love it and it's sweet fragrance fills the air for a month.
Lonicera nitida deserves a snip or two to to create a splash at the bottom of a waterfall effect of Hosta.
The Viburnum burkwoodii is beginning to close it's doors into the hidden moss garden room. Time to trim this back as well.
A garden path with Spirea thunbergii, Callicarpa issai, and Kerria japonica alba, growing over the walkway and obstructing the view into the woods. That's a living 'Bottle Tree' on the right.
BEFORE ABOVE
AFTER BELOW
The 'Bottle Tree' is 'Black Dragon' Cryptomeria that was hard pruned years ago after attaining a less than satysfing growth habit in shade (it is really best in full sun.) I kept the branches long enough to stick bottles on and because it is alive the branches stay supple enough to support the weight of the bottles.
As you hand prune the shrubby tendrils don't forget to put some of the stems aside for propagation as now is the time to stick hardened off cuttings.
BEFORE ABOVE
AFTER BELOW
With the constant threat of summer Ticks it is wise to keep a lot of elbow room for those jumping menaces. I found a big healthy one the other day waiting on the tip of a Kerria leaf waiting to transfer to me as I passed . OFF WITH IT'S HEAD!!!!!
Other path edges require a bit of digging out to widen. I like to share the bounty this woodland garden gives me year after year and 'pass along' to friends and clients. I love slowly strolling by plants in my gardens remembering who and where they came from.
HAPPY PRUNING TOO YOU, TILL WE MEET AGAIN.
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