Importance of the Program
The purpose for selective, natural pruning is essentially to extend the life of a plant longer than can be achieved by “manicured” pruning. By hard pruning shrubs to approximately 18” in height, new growth is encouraged on the lower portion of the plant and the natural shape is re-established. Secondary buds located in the lower part of the plant are activated to create new growth.
Maintaining a Natural Shape
Ideally, one hard prune per year will rejuvenate the plant and allow less yearly maintenance to be required. By selectively pruning to thin out the center of the shrub a few times throughout the year, flower production is increased. It also gives the shrub a more natural look while keeping the shrub in its allotted space without having to shear it. In general, most shrubs will grow into their natural shapes without any pruning at all. However, they can become overgrown and crowded, making them a nuisance.
Disadvantages of Shearing Plants
While some prefer the manicured look created by shearing, the practice actually shortens the life of the plant, restricts flowering, and increases interior dead and unproductive stems. The plant’s response to shearing is to continually produce fresh foliage to replace the foliage lost to shearing. This continuous new succulent growth requires additional water and fertilizer to maintain the new foliage. A sheared plant, by definition, will require constant, frequent, and expensive repetitive labor to hold the shape that so many believe to be the right way to prune. Breaking away from this practice will reduce labor and water costs, restore the natural growth habits of the plant, and maximize flower production.
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| Immediately after seasonal hard cutback |
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Six weeks of growth after seasonal “hard prune”
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| One season of growth after seasonal hard prune |
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| Display of flowers achieved by natural pruning. |
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