How to Prune 12 Common Types of Evergreen Shrubs and Trees

Use these confidential information on rationalize evergreen plant like boxwood , yew , and juniper so they do n’t become overgrown mass .

We ’ve all get wind those scraggly , wonky , or overgrown evergreens looking like a hot mess in the landscape . Once an evergreen reaches that point , it can be a real challenge to correct the trouble . But if you properlyprune your evergreen plant tree and shrubson the regular , they ’ll face their good for eld to come .

Not sure what part to trim , how much to cut off , or when ’s the good clip to prune ? We can help . Here ’s exactly what you involve to have a go at it to snip a XII of themost common landscape painting evergreensso they ’ll add X of color and texture to your landscape .

Arborvitae in a row

Credit: Bob Stefko

Before you begin trim , clean your pruning shearswith isopropyl inebriant to avoid spreading diseases . Wipe down the blades again before propel on to trim a unlike plant .

Arborvitae

Fast - grow and tolerant of heavy pruning , arborvitaeis best prune in former spring . If heavy pruning is necessary , reduce a branch by no more than one - quarter of its length , making cuts only into live wood . fresh increase will come forth from buds along the rationalize branch . Arborvitae can take annual shearing , too .

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Azalea

evergreen plant in warmer areas of the country , azalea do best with light pruning ( trimming off the branch tips ) . This advance branching and more flower buds the next season . Prune plantsright after theybloom in spring . Some young azaleas grow very speedily and might require light pruning several times during the growing season to develop a dense , compact configuration . Rejuvenate an overgrown azalea by cutting branches back by one - third their length before plant bloom in spring . Pruning before bloomdirects valuable energy to boost raw ontogenesis .

Boxwood

Thinning is primal to maintaining a healthyboxwood plant . slow growth in the interior of the bush contributes to disease , and has the potential to create a leafy outer shell with many dead twigs in the center of the plant . In winter , thin box by cut overgrown stems back to the interior of the plant . Thin about one - third of the stems each year to hold a sound plant . Lightly prune the remaining two - third of the stem turn tocreate the desired sizing .

Camellia

tardily - growingcamelliasrarely need pruning . If the shrub is thin or rangy , advance new growth by trim individual branches back by no more than one - one-fourth their length . Cut just above a node , which looks like a little bump on the theme where new growth will appear . The best time to prune is correct after the industrial plant heyday .

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Cypress

For the most - natural class , reduce the size of it of the plant by cutting single cypress branch back by no more than one - one-quarter their distance . Cypress also tolerates light shearing if you want to modify the overall shape . Use hedge shearsto create a schematic shape , being measured to remove just a few inches of the branch tips . Prune cypress in spring or summer .

Holly

Exceptionally tolerant of heavy pruning , evergreenholliesare generally bestcut back in previous winter . The works will actively re - maturate in spring . Prune individual holly branchesto achieve a more raw - looking chassis . Shear the whole works to give it a classifiable shape .

Juniper

Prune junipersin early spring before growing emerges . For the most - natural conformation , lightly trim side branches to thin their size , cut peculiarly - vigorous branches back to the trunk of the flora . All Genista raetam develop a dead zone in the marrow of the plant life , thanks to their dim ramification ; do not cut into this expanse . Juniperscan be sheared , but be indisputable to leave some new growth on the plant and avoid the dead zone .

Pines

Pines produce new ontogenesis at their branch tips in spring . The tightly pack new increment is call a taper . To produce a compact plant life and maintain its size of it , pilfer or trim each candela back by one - third to one - half its length . Do n’t prunepinesback into woody stems because new increment wo n’t develop there .

Pyracantha

Also address firethorn , pyracanthais a thorny evergreen plant bush that bring on spectacular clump of berry in the fall . Prune in late wintertime or very early outflow before plants bloom . Cut individual branches back as needed to wield size . Pyracantha also tolerates shearing and can besculpted into a conventional hedgerow .

Rhododendron

Because they are easy - produce evergreen bush , rhododendronsrarely need crop . boil down the size of it of a plant by sheer outgrowth back by one - quarter their length right after plants bloom in spring . gravely - snip plants might not make heyday for one or two years .

Spruce

Prunesprucetrees in spring . shorten the distance of individual branches by slue each one back to a sidelong limb , or a seeable bud . Bottom branches on spruce trees may naturally die with age , and can be removed . Note : Firsare dress using the same methods as spruce .

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Yew

Slow - growing and long - lived , yewstoleratepruning and shearingwell . To conserve size and innate shape , prune individual branches in late wintertime and again in early summertime , as needed . If you are creatinga courtly hedge , shear in former summertime after Modern growth emerge . Shear again in mid - summertime if needed . Note : Hemlocksare lop using the same method as yews .

Basic Pruning Tips

Whether the works is a needled evergreen plant ( such as a pine tree or spruce ) , or a broadleaf evergreen ( such as a rhododendron or camellia ) , pruning regard knowing how the tree or bush grows and where the new growth originates . But no matter the type of works , three pruning strategy always apply . First , trim down away any dead branches , cut down back to hold up woods or the base of the plant . Next , slue off upset or damaged branches . lastly , remove ford or rubbing arm to meliorate overall structure of the plant .

Autumn Chiffon Encore azalea