The Right Timing for Landscaping & Pruning

How The Right Timing Plan For Trimming & Pruning

Can Repeatedly Save Money in Your Condominium Landscaping Budget

At no cost or time required by you or the HOA; your landscaping company should walk the grounds and map out all plant life.

This one act alone increases the value, service and quality care you receive for the dollars you spend.

Now the map serves as a guide for knowing when and how much trimming and pruning is required throughout the year.

A ‘status-quo’ trimming program inherently excludes many needs your plant life calls for…

Trimming and pruning before the dormant time of winter, rather than trimming at the end of winter has big consequences for your community plant life.

When trimmed before the winter season the bush may have time to sprout new growth. This sounds like a great thing… but as the weather progressively gets colder and the soil freezes, the new sprout will not survive resulting in unhealthy branches for spring bloom and growth.

This problem will compound for a couple of years and leave your community with shabby, unhealthy bushes, which will require replacement soon enough.

The best time to trim most bushes & shrubs is late winter when the harshest weather has past and plant life is slowly coming out of dormancy. Between mid-to-late February and early April is the best time to start, depending on the species specific timing.

During the Spring Bloom Keep those Sharp Sheers Away

Trimming is not recommended during the spring bloom, and can prove to be a colossal mistake for one reason. The landscaper will remove ‘flowering stems’ relied on by the plant to produce food, ultimately resulting in stunted growth and poor overall health.

Pruning & trimming provides new growth, so when they are treated matters. Trimming at the right times will insure your spring gardens and beds will be full, colorful and lively, not to mention you’ll save budget dollars in the long run because replacement will not be a concern.

Without a “Timing” plan for your bushes, shrubs and perennials, they will definitely be at risk for insect infestation, injury from stormy weather, and an eye-sore in your community.

Know Your Shrubs During Spring Time Flowering

When you know pruning Azaleas AFTER flowering is best, then you know; Pruning these flowering shrubs before or during their spring time bloom will remove essential buds they need from last season’s growth.

Pruning & trimming provides new growth, so when they are treated matters. Trimming at the right times will insure your spring gardens and beds will be full, colorful and lively, not to mention you’ll save budget dollars in the long run because replacement will not be a concern.

By contrast, non-flowering shrubs can be trimmed and pruned in the late winter months with no adverse consequences. Whereas pruning these shrubs in the late summer months can spur new growth and cause injury during the winter months. And again, on the other hand it is the late summer months where pruning and trimming Azaleas is perfect for optimal health.

Evergreen Shrubs Respond Great To a Strategic Trimming Plan

Evergreen shrubs like the Northeastern Arborvitae will grow very tall and thin when left alone. With proper pruning techniques, Arborvitae’s can become bushier and wider, or they can be pruned for height and shape.

In your Condominium community it’s important to know how high and wide your Evergreen’s can or will be. This avoids eventual blocking of windows, driving sight and shrubs growing up buildings where they cultivate insect problems.

It’s clear how each bush, shrub or perennial will require different care and maintenance throughout the year? Be weary of landscape companies who treat your community like every other… this cookie-cutter approach will certainly result in costly replacements and insect problems.

To rid your landscaping budget of ongoing waste, add a few extra trimming and pruning treatments ‘timed’ throughout the year to insure vibrant plant life for years to come.