Do you have a shrub that's so overgrown that it's growing into your house, impeding on a walkway, or growing into other plants?  Before removing the shrub, consider rejuvenation pruning.  There are two types of rejuvenation pruning.  The first type, extensive rejuvenation pruning, is the practice of cutting the whole shrub to a height of 4-10 inches.  After the cut, the shrub will immediately start growing new, healthy, vigorous shoots which give the shrub a new, manageable look with increased flowering.  Examples of shrubs that respond well to extensive rejuvenation pruning are: dogwood, spirea, potentilla, honeysuckle, hydrangea, lilac, forsythia, and weigela.

If you don't like the drastic visual change that extensive rejuvenation pruning results in, there is a second type of rejuvenation pruning called gradual rejuvenation pruning.  Over a period of three years, you gradually remove 1/3 of the oldest stems every year until you have a fully rejuvenated shrub.  This method takes longer to complete, but will leave you with a shrub that stays more attractive throughout the rejuvenation period.  Using both rejuvenation pruning methods will leave you with the same result; a new, vigorous, healthy plant which can be easily maintained in its natural form.  Most of the shrubs that respond well to extensive rejuvenation pruning will also respond well to gradual rejuvenation pruning.  Some different shrubs that respond better to gradual rejuvenation pruning are: purple sand cherry, cotoneaster, burning bush, many viburnum, and with hazel.

There are a few things to keep in mind with rejuvenation pruning:

1.  Not all shrubs respond well.  Avoid rejuvenation pruning to junipers, boxwood, narrow leaved evergreens, and shrubs that have only one primary trunk.  Spring flowering shrubs won't flower the year the rejuvenation cut is made.
2.  Timing is important.  Although rejuvenation pruning can be done with some shrubs right after flowering, the best time is late winter of right before bud break.
3.  Give special attention to heavily pruned shrubs.  Do to the stress that some shrubs receive during heavy cutbacks, watering and fertilizer can be very important.

Contact American Landscape to schedule rejuvenation tree pruning today!