The delicate , flattened sprays of scaly needles makesarborvitae(Thuja spp . ) among the most attractive conifer Tree and shrubs for gardens . Of the five mintage of arborvitae , and dozens of cultivar , most are used as tall hedgerows or as pocket-size accent shrubs for building introduction seam or miscellaneous shrub borders . The best time to conduct any pruning care on arborvitae is in former outpouring , before Modern maturation begins .

Pruning Season

Dead , broken or morbid twigs or branch on arborvitae plants may be removed any time of twelvemonth . This includes burn away monolithic webworm nests or unreasonable evergreen plant bagworm cocoon . If you like to mold or fleece an arborvitae , early to mid - natural spring is the right season to discharge the undertaking . Trimming the tips of the leaf spraying and branches this time of class result in the fastest healing of cut wounds , with ample time before summer for Modern growth to appear .

Summer Pruning Insight

Trimming arborvitae in the vivid Dominicus rays and heat of summer is n’t a good practice . The fresh pruning wounds on both twig and phonograph needle spray apace dry and browned , resulting in a tree diagram or shrub with a singed grain or color across its leafy canopy . However , a secondary trimming of arborvitae hedges is justify in late summer , such as mid - August to early September . To maintain the straight or formal bend of the arborvitae specimen or hedge , a twinkle trimming in later summertime take out any extra growth that pass since spring . This hold on the plants at roughly the same size year to year , rather than growing a lot larger than desired .

Technique

Arborvitae , unlike many other conifers , has the capabilities to rejuvenate new leafage from lower parts of a arm that lacks leaf . This new leafage take place only if that part of the arborvitae encounter plenteous sun and the filth is rich and evenly moist later . Focus cut back branches of arborvitae by rationalize more vertically angled twigs than horizontal ones . Once a horizontal limb or phonograph needle area is cut , it tends not to produce more horizontal regrowth . New growth sprouts most promptly from upward - slant branch , branchlet and foliage nebuliser .

Preventing Uneven Plants

The skillful leafage and mature silhouette occurs on arborvitae grown in full to partial sun , and not shaded by close - by plant . copious sun see the arborvitae remains thickly leave and no wasteland or " bald spots " develop . When trimming these evergreen plant — check they ’re trimmed in the proper season of former to mid - spring — angle the pruning so the bottom of the plant is wider than at the top . This allows lightness to reach the lowermost arm and needle so they remain greenish and dense . From the side profile , a properly pruned arborvitae should search more like an " A " than a " V. " course rounded or globe - shaped specimen are also best trimmed slightly wider at their base so light reaches the lowest acerate leaf .

References

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