Dead Shrub Pruning

Dead boxwood branches make for great color in dried wreaths. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Dead Shrub Pruning

February is my month to start pruning shrubs; that’s assuming the weather cooperates to allow me out in the garden. With below zero temperatures earlier this month, pruning trees and shrubs was not high on my priority list. The key is to trim the plants while they are still dormant.

When pruning anything, I start by removing dead branches. I don’t worry about the shape just yet. if a branch is dead it needs to be removed regardless of what shape remains. Then I can trim other branches to shape the plant, if necessary.

The easiest plants to prune are those that remain green through winter, such as boxwoods. It’s easier to see what part of the shrub is not doing well and holding its color.

ThiS is a boxwood that didn’t make the transplant but the branches add yellow to dried wreaths. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another shrub I prune in February are Autumn Joy Sedum perennials. Usually by this time of year only the dry flower stalks remain, a great addition to dried flower wreaths.

Various forms of spirea also have dried flower heads that can be pruned this time of year. I cut those shrubs back to encourage more compact growth so they don’t spill over into paths.

Yellow Forsythias get pruned and their cut limbs are brought inside to place in water. They force quite nicely and bloom after a couple of weeks.

If my dwarf fruit trees need pruning, those limbs get saved to put in water to force them to bloom inside. I’ve had mixed luck with that but I keep trying.

These yellow boxwood branches add a lovely touch of yellow. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Once pruned, I go back through the pile and see if there is anything I can add to my dried grapevine wreaths to update the wreaths.

This past year, I almost threw out the dried yellow boxwood branches i trimmed off one of my boxwoods. They nicely added a burst of color to my dried door wreaths.

If I add something that is edible, usually wildlife will find it and remove it out of the wreaths. I don’t mind sharing, it just gives me another opportunity to try something else.

Charlotte