How to Prune Trees and Shrubs

Pruning is an important gardening technique that helps in maintaing a neat and aesthetically beautiful garden. It is important to keep the trees and shrubs trimmed so that they do not look shabby and unkempt. Pruning is not only necessary to maintain desired appearance but it is also important for the trees and shrubs to keep growing normally. Most of the times, rapid growth of trees and shrubs makes them dense and cluttered. they should be thinned and pruned to avid any damage to the stems and branches.

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Most of the trees and shrubs can be pruned in late fall or early winter season when they are dormant. It is considered to the best time to prune them as it minimizes sap bleeding and helps the tree to recover quickly in the spring season. Light pruning or thinning to maintain desired shape or structure can be done anytime of the year. However, it is important to make sure that you do not take off much or else the tree may go into shock.

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Flowering trees, shrubs and plants should be pruned in early spring and then after blooming season to encourage heavy flowering. Pruning, deadheading and removing spent flowers helps to induce more blooms. The trees and shrubs should be always be pruned as little as possible. Diseased and dead branches should be removed timely so that the infection does not spread to other parts. Outgrowing stems and branches that act as obstruction should also be removed. It is important to understand what the plant needs and identify the areas that need to be pruned before starting off.

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When pruning, always use sharp tools to make clean cuts. Make pruning cut just outside the branch collar not too close to the main trunk. If done properly, pruning will stimulate growth and your trees will flourish with burst of energy.

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Best Plants and Trees for Winter Landscaping

Landscaping your garden with the right kind of plants and trees can ensure all season interest. Winter landscaping is a great way of adding different varieties of plants, shrubs and trees that can add interest and color to the landscape even in long cold winter months. There are many evergreen trees, bushes and hedge plants that can be included in a winter garden. These evergreen trees are known to retain their foliage even in cold and harsh months. These trees and plants can complemented by growing some other interesting winter plants.

Red Twig Dogwood

Red Twig Dogwood is known for its brilliant red colored stems and branches that stand out in winters against the white snow. It is also called American Dogwood and grows well in damp areas and wet soil. It is a fast growing tree that is about 6 to 8 feet tall in height. Red Twig Dogwood loses almost all its leaves in the late fall to reveal its bright colored stems.

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Holly

Holly comes in many varieties and you can choose the one that is best for your garden. Holly is a prized winter shrub known for its red colored berries and beautiful dark green colored leaves. The leaves are very pretty and spiked at the ends. Holly is among many favorite holiday plants and trees that people love to grow on their property.

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Camellia

Camellia is beautiful evergreen shrub that is known for its big conspicuous flowers that bloom during fall, winter and early spring. The flowers can be white, red or pink in color. It is a small tree that grows fast and accentuates the landscape. Camellia is a common addition to Oriental and Chinese gardens.

Other quick growing trees and plants for winter interest include Winterberry, Paper Birch, Heather, Winter Daphne, Paper Bush, Red Chokeberry and Japanese Laurel. All these are amazing varieties for winter landscaping.

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Best Fast Growing Trees

Top Fast Growing Trees

When looking for trees that grow quickly, you need to balance hardiness with convenience. Here are some good choices for fast growing trees that won’t crack or fall easily.

Crape Myrtles - These are everywhere in the Southeastern US. They grow tall enough to provide shade in just a few years, bloom through most of the summer, and have lovely fall foliage.

Northern Red Oak - This tree grows 60-75 feet tall and has a wide spreading canopy. It needs plenty of sun and well-drained soil.

Leland Cypress - This is the go-to tree if you want a privacy screen to grow up quickly. Plant in a row as the trees grow tall but are narrow.

Green Vase Zelkova - This hardy tree originated in Japan. Prefers full sun to partial shade but tolerates a wide variety of soils and condition. Drought and pollution resistance makes the zelkova a great choice along the street edge.

Sweet Bay Magnolia - Broad shiny green leaves and creamy white flowers make this a fabulous ornamental choice. Magnolia grows tall and evergreen in the South, but will do fine as a shorter, deciduous tree in colder climates.

Landscape With Affordable Trees, It's Possible!

Landscaping Trees Affordable

Tress add character to your yard. They are the most valuable and long-lived plant you can own. There are many trees that can be grown to adorn your landscape or garden. Maintaining them properly keeps them healthy and looking their best.

Landscaping Trees - Tree Selection

Selecting the perfect tree requires some serious thoughts. When you want to buy a new tree to add to your landscape or replace an existing one, first decide what you want the plant to do. Do you want shade, privacy, attractive flowers, or fruit? Or do you want the tree to be a colorful focal point year-round? Although some trees cost more, there are many places (buy online or a quick growing trees nursery) where you can get them for an affordable price.

Landscaping Trees - Transporting Trees

Trees need to be transported from a store, pickup center (if you buy online) or quick growing trees nursery under cover before planting them. Exposure to sunlight and wind in the beginning may damage them. If you cannot plant the trees right way, store them in a cool, shady place and keep the root ball moist.

Landscaping Trees - Tree Maintenance

Most trees grow fine even if they are left alone, or they may need only annual maintenance. However, in any type of soil, trees often benefit from extra nutrients. Some trees, especially the fruit bearing ones, require more fertilizer than other trees.

Below are some tips about caring for trees and what to look for in order to prevent the loss of a valued landscape plant.

Caring for Deciduous Trees - Most deciduous trees offer flowers and fruits in all forms. They are often placed in a such a way that they serve as landscape accent. Caring for such trees involve maintaining their attractive natural form and making the most of their ornamental features. Some may require seasonal pruning, others demand special care.

Caring for Shade Trees - Shade trees are known to grow tall and wide with spreading trunks. They lose their leaves in autumn. These trees need to have adequate water and fertilizer, in addition to protection from injury and pruning damage.

Caring for Evergreen Trees - Evergreen trees block sun and unwanted views year-round. Some trees of this type contain ornamental flowers and foliage. Rows of these trees provide a living wall or boundary and may frame attractive views. The evergreen trees require different pruning and fertilizing based on their type..

Plant Fast Growing Trees For Immediate Landscaping Results

For a Quick and Cost Effective Improvement on Your Landscape Plant Fast Growing Trees

For privacy, wind protection, and attracting nature there is nothing better than a tree. However, the process of going from a bare yard to a lush paradise takes time and many people settle for privacy fencing. Choosing the right fast growing trees can give you the beautiful nature-filled yard fast. There are several beautiful quick growing trees that can change your landscape drastically.
Maple Trees come to mind in northern areas where they are tapped for syrup. Maple trees are more than just northern gems, different varieties grow throughout all the climates in North America and are considered the fastest growing and heartiest trees. There are several varieties of fast growing maple trees including, red maple, silver maple, and sugar maple trees.
The red maple has leaves that turn bright red in the fall in a grand display of time passing, perfect to sit in your front yard for those autumn family pictures. It can reach heights of sixty feet tall and is very fast growing. This tree grows well throughout most climates.
The silver maple grows even faster than the red maple. When the wind rustles the leaves it appears that the tree turns silver as the underside of the leaves show their lighter color. This tree is popular in the south, yet grows well in most climates.
Sugar maple trees, as the name implies make the best sugar and syrup. They grow up to one hundred feet tall and are very cold tolerant. Sugar maples grow best in the north. This lovely tree is very popular, and can reach seventy-five feet tall.
The empress trees are beautiful trees with huge leaves and should be considered when choosing a fast growing tree. Empress trees grow up to fifteen feet in just one year. At full size this lovely tree can reach sixty feet tall and fifty feet wide and at a rate of fifteen feet a year you will have a beautiful giant in your yard in no time at all. In the spring you will see clusters of flowers bloom on this giant.
Planting fast growing trees in your yard is a cost effective way to improve your property and even the air quality around your home. Quick growing trees also make a lovely and sensible housewarming gift for a new neighbor to add value to your entire block. Planting a tree is the most efficient way of improving the world we share.   

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How To Trim You Knockout Roses

Pruning the Secret to Award Winning Roses Every time

In 2012, over 198 million red roses alone were sold on Valentine's Day from various garden centers and nursery stores. Is there any reason to wonder why roses are considered the most popular plant in America? Not only are they beautiful and appealing, but a rose garden with all the enticing fragrances saturating your yard, can be compared to the seductive fragrances enjoyed when entering a body works store; Every female on the planet wants, or in her own way, desires a rose bush (garden).

However, much must be taken into consideration before beginning the task of cultivating a series of these delicate yet demanding plants. Your focus has to transfer from the look and aroma to the preservation requirements.

If a rose garden is your desire, a substantial amount of effort and time must be considered. Not only is pruning a must, it must be done properly and regularly. In addition, roses require an intense maintenance schedule. For consistently beautiful, healthy and a plentiful bounty of bulbs, roses cannot be planted, watered and watched as they grow. They must be pampered and babied to obtain desired results.

To prune properly, read carefully and follow more carefully the guide as indicated below:

Proper Tools

For your welfare, effective pruning requires a good pair of rose pruning gloves. If the gloves are not designed for protection from the thorny rose pricks, you’re setting yourself up for misery, potential diseases and the desire to keep your plants healthy fading. Make sure you purchase a pair of Rose Pruning Gloves or gloves especially designed for pruning. In addition, consider comfort. Make sure you have clothing designed for the sometimes hours you will be on your knees, protection from the weather and especially little critters roaming around.

There are two gadgets required and designated as the most important when preparing to prune your plants; a sharp pair of hand sheers for smaller branches and loppers for thicker more mature branches. When cleaning the branches from your bush, a pair of dull sheers can cause your rose bush to suffer spasms. If trauma follows, the branch or entire plant may not recover and die.

After all required tools are at hand, you can now begin pruning your plant. Start by making yourself and surroundings comfortable. Next begin inspecting to begin removing all the dead branches and suckers (new plants) growing out at the bottom of bush. Next, remove any branch that is thin and wimpy in addition to all branches that are growing too close together. The reason for this is to try to prevent diseases from taking over the plant.

After pruning dead and weak branches, decide on the silhouette you want your rose to form. When the rose is formed to your desire, make sure none are touching and allow for no less than four to five branches, distanced at least one foot apart.
Pretty soon, you’ll begin noticing new bulbs with gorgeous flowers appearing.

So remember the most important steps and tools for successful pruning are:
1) Gardening Attire
2) Sharp tools
3) Remove all suckers, unhealthy and new branches
4) Determine the shape of your plant
5) Remove all but four or five branches making sure they are each no closer than one foot from one another.

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How and When to Trim Trees and Shrubs

 

 When you buy plants you have to think about pruning to keep them healthy. Pruning shrubs is essential to keeping them healthy and beautiful. There is a proper way and time to prune for best results. It is not only important to prune at the right time, but also in the correct manner using the correct equipment.

There are three main tools you will need to properly prune shrubs. A hand pruner, a lopper, and a pruning saw. Each of these should be sharpened and cleaned before beginning a pruning project. They should also be cleaned between shrubs. If the shrub that is being trimmed has a disease, the fluids that will get on the equipment may contaminate the other shrubs. Clean after every use with simple isopropyl alcohol.

The proper time to prune shrubs varies from plant to plant. A general rule is to prune shrubs that bloom in the spring after they are finished blooming. For fall blooming shrubs pruning is best done in the winter months. Contact a nursery to be sure you are pruning at the right time for best results.

Before beginning a pruning project, step back and look at the shrub you are pruning. Trimming out dead or diseased areas is a great place to start. From there, decide what shape and size you would like to keep the shrub. Keep in mind that pruning does promote growth and keep the shrub healthy. For some shrubs, it is fine to prune during the growing season to control size and shape, but once again, do some research and be sure this will not harm the shrub.

Ideally it is necessary to cut out any dead branches. You may want to trim away any that are rubbing or crossing over each other as this may lead to damaged branches. Use hand pruners for the smaller branches that are no larger than a half an inch in diameter. Loppers are ideal for branches up to one and a half inches. The pruning saw is used for larger, up to three inch branches. Using the right tool will make pruning easier. Proper pruning of shrubs will keep them healthy and beautiful.

While it is a fairly easy process, make sure to know when the best pruning time is for your shrub. A simple search on the internet or phone call to a local nursery will give you valuable information about when and how to prune your shrubs.