When taking care of your Baltimore landscape’s shrubs and trees during the cold winter months it’s vital to give them extra attention. During this time of year most trees and shrubs are dormant, meaning that they are not actively growing, conserving their energy for spring. This makes winter ideal for pruning dying or invasive branches. Plants that are pruned with care will produce more flowers and fruit, making the pruning process an important part of any homeowners landscape maintenance. Pruning can also aid in protecting your plants from diseases and nasty insects. Lehnhoff’s Landscaping has the inside scoop on what you should prune, and when.
What Do I Prune?
If you are correctly pruning during the winter you’ll definitely see an immediate benefit to your plants. Pruning can stimulate dormant trees and shrubs by providing them with extra energy and biological resources that the tree or shrub has set aside for the pruned branches. By pruning these branches the plant will redirect their allocated resources or “fuel” into reinforcing its overall health. Here as a short list of common Baltimore plants that can be pruned in winter:
Trees
- Bradford and Callory pears
- Crabapples
- Poplar
- Spruce
- Junipers
- Sumacs
- Bald cypress
- Cherries
- Plums
- Honey locust
Shrubs
- Barberries
- Glossy abelia
- Beauty berries
- Camellias (after they bloom)
- European hornbeam
- Euonymous
- Mallow
- Hydrangeas
What Should I Avoid Pruning?
Some trees and shrubs will bleed a gummy sap when pruned too late or early in the year. While this “bleeding” does not, in and of itself, present a huge danger to the plant’s health, it can cause sap to stick to nearby cars or lawn ornaments and could potentially weaken the plant by draining resources to heal. In general, you should shun pruning these trees or shrubs in winter, taking care of the task during fall. Some common examples found in Baltimore are:
- Maples
- Birches
- Dogwoods
- Walnuts
- Elms
Need Pruning Advice or Help?
Call Lehnhoff’s Landscaping. Our landscaping professionals have years of experience and access to the latest landscaping tools and styles. We know exactly what plants need pruning and what should be left alone, and we know how to prune with minimal impact on plant health. Our maintenance plans and planting services will ensure that no matter what time of year it is, your property will be stunning. If you have any more questions about winter pruning in Baltimore, contact Lehnhoff’s Landscaping by Calling 443.921.5789 or visit LehnoffsLandscaping.com today!
Help us grow! Follow Lehnhoff’s Landscaping on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+