Renew Your Shrubs With Rejuvenation Pruning

Turn your overgrown shrubs into ones that look brand new.

I've rejuvenated hundreds of shrubs over the last thirty years. And the best way to refresh your shrubs for that brand-new look is through this pruning process.

Rejuvenation pruning is a process where you remove at least half of a plant's growth and possibly cut it down to the ground. It is considered a "hard" pruning and is often also referred to as renewal pruning.

Important considerations and broad guidelines:

• This process works best for deciduous shrubs, not evergreens.
• Not all shrubs can tolerate this type of pruning, so do your research first.
• Plants should be in the dormant state for best results.
• Late winter, before a plant breaks dormancy, is the preferred time for rejuvenation.
• Flowering cycles may be interrupted as some species need a year to develop flower buds.

Commonly, rejuvenation pruning is recommended only every three to five years. But I have several shrubs that I cut back hard annually. Your plant should be in a healthy state when rejuvenating. Stressed or diseased plants, or ones at the end of their lifespan, may not respond well and could die.

Our video here covers dozens of before and after photos of rejuvenated shrubs and how this drastic process can transform your landscape and gardens.

After rejuvenation, you can often expect more vibrant leaf colors, increased flowering, and a refresh of a shrub's natural state. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and they are right.

Here is the rejuvenation pruning lineup:

• Summer Wine Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Seward’ 
• Amber Jubilee Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’
• Emerald Carousel Barberry - Berberis ‘Tara’
• Little Lamb Hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lamb’
• Limelight Hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
• Quick Fire Hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’
• Bobo Hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata ‘ILVOBO’ 
• Bloomerang Purple Lilac - Syringa x ‘Penda’ 
• Dwarf Korean Lilac - Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
• Dakota Sunspot Potentilla - Potentilla fruticosa ‘Fargo’
• Tor Birchleaf Spirea - Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’
• Gold Mound Spirea - Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’
• Cardinal Red-Twig Dogwood - Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’
• Bridal Wreath Spirea - Spiraea x vanhouttei

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Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike!

Kevin

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