Shrub Pruning

Contrary to popular belief, proper shrub pruning is not clipping, trimming or mindless shearing. The art of it lies in knowing how to accommodate the plant’s physiological needs with whatever aesthetic look you are trying to achieve.

One common error is to concentrate solely on the shrub’s exterior surface. Depriving the inner structure sufficient light for photosynthesis usually leads to the “hollow shrub” syndrome we have all seen and a much shorter lifespan.

At Hartney Greymont, we believe that natural pruning is best for most applications. We hand prune to reveal the branch work within the shrub. This creates a very attractive three dimensional view and also promotes dense foliage and good health. Many of our clients have found that natural looking shrubs are actually more appealing to them than the sheared shrubs they thought they wanted. After all, it is hard to improve on nature’s own design.

If you do want a geometrical look, say, for a formal hedge, we urge you to let one of our certified arborists handle the job. He or she will be able to manage the necessary shearing in a way that doesn’t compromise the plant’s health.

And if you do have shrubs that have been damaged one way or another, our arborists can prune them for rejuvenation, a special care technique that can be highly effective.