Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Try selective pruning method
John Arbogast
Landscape consultant John Arbogast answers your questions every Thursday. Send questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to:
Dear John
5102 Greenfield St. SW
Roanoke, Va. 24018
Or send an e-mail. Answers will be given only in this column. Please don't send pictures or samples.
Recent columns
Q: I need help and information. Our church has a big lot, and we’ve improved the landscape over the years. Back in the ‘80s, I was involved in planting two Foster Holly bushes, many feet back from each of the two main entrances to the property. I am back from being gone for many years, and now some folks say that the Foster Holly plants need to be trimmed and shaped because they have gotten so big. I think that the Hollies have grown well and are attractive after these 20 or more years, but I’m willing to go along with the feelings of others. I’m afraid that trimming will only reduce the size of the Hollies for a couple of years and that this pruning job will become a frequent need. What do you think? How should pruning and trimming be done for a Foster Holly? When is the best time to do this work? This place is in an older part of Roanoke.
A: If trimming the big Foster’s Hollies is needed or wanted, the best time to do this pruning will be in mid spring when new growth is being produced by nature but before the weather turns hot. Trimming and shaping these 20-plus years-old hollies is a job for professional grounds/landscape workers who have both the ability and equipment for reaching all parts of the big shrubs. I’m guessing that these 2 big Foster’s Hollies are at least 20 or more feet tall, since you wrote that they were planted back in the ‘80s.
To avoid that clipped tight appearance and the future need for re-clipping, I’d suggest the pruning technique called selective pruning, in which pruning saws or other appropriate cutting implements are used to selectively cut back individual trunk(s) and branches below the desired height for the target plant(s). This technique is different from the “haircut method” in which shears are used to clip all outer portions of a target plant to give it a geometric shape.
Tell the grounds/landscape professional(s) before they begin the work what desired height your church wants the two big Foster’s Hollies to be, and make sure they understand the selective pruning method.
Begin selective pruning on a Foster’s Holly by sawing off that central trunk just above a healthy side branch(es) at a height below what new growth over the next few years will recover. Then, proceed from there to saw off ends of side branches removing several inches of branch-end growth choosing a selective location for each cut just above a healthy twig or leaf, working toward the lowest branches.
Good Foster’s Holly care is essential following the spring cutting-back. Encourage re-greening by watering the 2 hollies once per dry week during the entire growing season. Spring fertilization of the hollies is not suggested, for fear that nutrients could encourage rapid growth necessitating further pruning in the next few years.
Q: Is there any way to stop English Ivy that is creeping over into my landscape from the neighboring side area? What about Roundup? My mom said that I’ll just have to pull and cut the ivy.
A: I believe that your mom is correct; you’ll have to pull and cut ivy runners, especially when the English Ivy is growing under or near desirable landscape plants. The old Roundup would cause English Ivy to turn yellow but not die. I don’t have any information about the lethal affect of “Quick-Pro Roundup” against English Ivy. I don’t know of any registered herbicide that is safe for homeowners to use against invading plants like English Ivy in and/or close to landscapes. There is a great amount of risk involved in using any “close proximity herbicide.” Gentle breezes or drips can occur.
