Heavy pruning of evergreens need advice

I have a range of evergreens,

previous owner left them untended so plan to do some heavy pruning to help them out and get them looking good.


Just wondered when the best time to prune is?


Also does anyone know of a good ground cover plant that can live under pines? Preferably something edible or looks good

 

Danjensen,

I like to do most pruning in early spring, after the last frost and before things start to send out new growth.

How about something like "lily of the valley" for under your pines. They will eventually multiply and look and smell nice too

 

You could plant some low bush blueberry bush sorts under the pines.

 

I have been reading about rejuvenation pruning of shrubbery and trees. Deciduous shrubs, broadleaf evergreens and narrow leaf evergreens all have different needs (go figure). Here are two links that I found to be helpful, maybe you will too. The first one cites timing based on Texas climate so obviously you and I have to adjust to our own!

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publ ... uning.html

http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguid ... Shrub.aspx

 

Thanks for the info guys thats great.

Those links were perfect Daisy, luckily matches with what i have pruned so far.

I was hoping you would say that Sjoerd, I'm guessing they would need a good sunny spot? and i would dig some compost into the ground where the plants would go?

Thanks bluewing, lilly of the valley is interesting I had a huge bed of the stuff, that I have been killing off. If i see any rogue plants this year I might try transplanting them.

 

"Heavy" pruning of evergreens isn't recommended. At the most 10 to 20% of the plant should be removed at any one time, since evergreens don't rejuvenate as quickly as broad-leafed plants.
Pruning should be done in late winter (oops, that ship sailed!).
May I suggest that you give them a gentle feeding this spring, remove any weeds, etc. from under them, and prepare a flower bed which will be planted in the fall. Then in your late winter (February?) trim the evergreens.
A year from now you will have better looking evergreens and your flowers, too!

 

Thanks Marlin.

I think I caught the tail end of winter when i pruned, as the was little to no sap bleed.

I have been careful with the prune after seeing the devastation my neighbour did to his ceder hedge.

Most of the heavy pruning has been secondary trunks that have come off the main trunk. all of the them have been weaker than the main trunk so it should rejuvenate the tree this year.

The ceder which is about 20+ ft high I took the top 1 foot off, the main leaders.

I also took off some large off shoots towards the bottom that are curving vertical. pruned them back to the curve.

You cant tell i've pruned it other than it looks a little bit tidier. The hope is with the tops taken off it should put energy into filling out this year so next winter i can prune the body of it a bit more.

thanks again for all the advice

 

Those blues will do alright in sunny or partial shade. You could dig-in some well-rotted, low pH compost... or buy a bag of Azalea/rhododendron soil and dig THAT in prior to planting.

I hope that you will have success.

 

Thanks for the advice, I've got some good well rotted manure that has a low PH so will use that.

I'm hoping they grow amazing considering our location.

Going to have to wait until next month for the garden centers to open though :-?

One question Sjoerd, how easy are they to propogate?

 

Hi Dan, If I remember right... You can prune when the candles shoot out in late spring or when ever that occurs for you. That's when I give mine some shaping if they need it. If you have any hemlocks, they can be shaped/pruned any time. See if a nursery close to you can give specific info on each species you have.