Small shrubs generally require little pruning, but it is still useful to keep the plant in a harmonious shape and to prevent it from becoming bald. The removal of wilted flowers, dead or diseased branches will also be part of the program, your shrubs will be better off!
The different pruning methods used on small shrubs
The removal of dead wood or diseased branches can be done all year round, it can be completed by the removal of wilted flowers just after flowering. It consists of systematically cutting these parts down to the level of a healthy and full of life branch. Always cut above an eye or an outward facing shoot. This pruning can be done on the majority of shrubs and concerns in particular the lavenders which can be pruned in the shape of balls.
The removal of the old wood allows to aerate the plant while privileging the more recent branches which will thus receive an influx of sap and light and will be able to develop better. It is practiced at the beginning of spring towards the end of March and consists in cutting down between 3 and 5 cm from the ground the 3 years old branches which already carry lateral and sub-lateral branches. This operation concerns Berberis, cotoneaster, brooms, hydrangeas, shrubby veronicas and symphorines.
The limitation of the development is necessary on certain plants, in particular the climbing shrubs or with untidy port, which need to be contained not to invade all and to preserve a compact and pleasant port. These plants should be pruned just after flowering so as not to compromise the next year's flowering. It will be necessary to reduce the branches to the desired height, then remove the oldest stems to keep only the young clumps starting from the ground or from quite low on the old stems. This pruning is done on clematis, climbing hydrangeas, honeysuckles and Turkestan knotweed.
Cutting back is a drastic method that will only be practiced after several years on evergreen shrubs, when they start to recede from the base. This pruning will be done in spring on late flowering shrubs and in autumn on spring flowering shrubs. It consists in cutting all the aerial parts of the plant at about 15 cm from its base to keep only some main branches. A compost-based mulching will then be necessary as well as a contribution of fertilizer in order to ensure the recovery. The following are concerned: St. John's wort, dogwood which will provide beautiful colored stems, Leycesteria, Japanese spirea and santolin.
Small shrubs that bloom on the previous year's wood, such as Buddleia, deutzia, mahonia or weigelia will be pruned immediately after flowering. Pruning will help to maintain a harmonious shape and to obtain larger flowers but in lesser numbers. Stems that have flowered should be cut back just above an eye or new growth, taking care to keep a portion of the current year's branch.
Shrubs that bloom on the current year's stems, such as Buddleia davidii, caryopsis or fuchsia, can be pruned shorter as soon as new leaves appear. Prune all the previous year's stems at 3 eyes from their junction with the old wood that should always be kept.
