JARGON BUSTER
Fertilizers are a source of
concentrated nutrients for plants.
Slow-release fertilizers do just
that—they release nutrients slowly
into the soil, because they degrade
more slowly. They may be made of
organic or inorganic material.
1
Remove weak, dead, or diseased
growth to reduce congestion at the
center. All winter-stem shrubs, like this
dogwood, should be pruned in late winter
or early spring.
PRUNING FOR
WINTER STEMS
Some dogwoods and willows are cut down almost
to the ground each year, or every other year, to
encourage masses of colorful young stems that
provide a great winter display.
YOU WILL NEED
• pruners
• garden gloves
• garden compost
• slow-release fertilizer
SEE ALSO
• PLANT A SHRUB >> 110/111
• CHOOSING SHRUBS >> 140/143
• PRUNING KNOW-HOW >> 236/237
Prune dead
wood at the
center of the
plant for fuller
regrowth the
next year
US_130-131_PruningForWinter.indd 130 07/09/2018 16:33
SHRUBS // PRUNING FOR WINTER STEMS 130 –131
3
Thin out some of the older,
thicker spurs to reduce the
chance of crossing stems that
may rub and damage each
other. Crossing growth will
also make the plant look
congested and untidy.
2
Cut back all the previous
year’s growth to the first
pair of buds at the base of the
stem. This will establish a
system of young spurs, which
will send out new stems.
4
After pruning, you should be left
with a simple, open structure
from which a mass of strong,
colorful new stems will grow. Add
a layer of garden compost and a
slow-release fertilizer around the
base of the plant.
Remove
wispy
stems to
encourage
the plant to
sprout
stronger
shoots
Cut at a
slight angle
in the same
direction as
the bud
US_130-131_PruningForWinter.indd 131 07/09/2018 16:33
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.