Rejuvenate Your Overgrown Shrub

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Susan Mason

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When planted too closely, shrubs will grow together. Restore their individuality by rejuvenating them.

Yes, it does happen: Good shrubs go bad, becoming overgrown and unruly. Maybe a shrub’s grown so high it’s starting to cover some windows along the house. Or maybe it’s grown so wide, it overreaches sidewalks and grabs at passersby. What’s a home gardener to do? Well, don’t give up on that plant just yet. Rejuvenate it – with the right pruning technique.

There are two approaches to rejuvenation pruning: You can cut the overgrown shrub back in one fell swoop, or spread the pruning out over several seasons. If you chose the all-at-once approach, cut all the branches back to 6-12 inches above ground level at the beginning of the growing season. The shrub will typically grow a fair amount in the first year after pruning. By the third or fourth year after the pruning, it’ll be of a fair size and have a lovely, compact shape. From this point on, you can prune it lightly as needed with a combination of heading cuts and thinning cuts to maintain its height and shape. (Of course, not all shrubs respond well to such aggressive pruning, so do make sure your species can handle it before your shears meet the wood.)

The more gradual approach to rejuvenation pruning involves cutting 1/3 of the stems to within 6-12 inches of the ground at the beginning of each growing season for three years. By the end of this time, all the old wood will be removed and only healthy new growth will remain.

Most deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen shrubs respond well to rejuvenation pruning. That said, do take note: You should avoid rejuvenation pruning of boxwoods, junipers and most narrow-leaved evergreens. Instead, consider shaping them into a tree when they become overgrown. This reveals the shrub’s sculptural qualities while giving it a neater look and creating space beneath for planting groundcovers, flowers or bulbs.

Warnings

An overgrown shrub that’s pruned will undergo root shock as a result. So it’s important to keep the plant well-watered and fertilized, as well as watch out for pests, during this period when its excessive roots die back.

Facts

Shrubs become overgrown and crowded primarily because they’re planted too close together for their mature growth habit. (Unfortunately, this is a common landscape installation problem.)
Shrubs grown without pruning may produce fewer flowers than those whose vigor is maintained through shaping. This is certainly true of roses, which stop blooming after a few years without pruning.

Tips

For your safety and the safety of others, always carry and store pruning tools properly. Never hold tools in your pockets, and carry shears or sharp-pointed tools with the point down while walking or standing. Make sure folding saws are locked tight before storing.

Faqs

Q: When should I prune my shrubs?
A: Species that bloom on second-year wood should be pruned after they’re finished blooming for the season. Cut back other deciduous shrubs in autumn after leaves fall. Prune evergreen shrubs in spring.

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