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An extremely important practice in landscape management and plant propagation, pruning helps retain plant health and vigor. By removing deformed and weak branches, terrible damage can be prevented leading to increased flowering and fruit production. Even low maintenance plants like those used for ground cover need pruning from time to time. After all, plants generally have the same needs when it comes to caring and maintenance. Pruning ground cover is a practice that should be done constantly to keep plants to their desired size and keep their attractiveness intact. What follows is an overview of the best seasons for pruning ground cover.
Ideally, pruning ground cover is done between late winter and early spring to prepare plants for new growth and to make sure that they have enough restored energy before any cutting is done. Pruning ground cover while dormant decreases the possibility of freeze damage. Although pruning at this time may reduce the amount of blooms certain shrubs can produce, it is nevertheless required to maintain the desired growth habit. Evergreen shrubs and those that produce flowers during summer are best pruned during early spring. For vines like liriope, old foliage should be cut four to six weeks before spring prior to leaf emergence.
Pruning ground cover during the middle of spring reduces their energy for growth because they have to shift it to healing their wounds and developing new shoots. For a lot of species of vines, frequent pruning during growth seasons may be essential for them to develop into their desired size. Flowering vines should be pruned shortly after they produce blooms. Pruning ground cover like spring-flowering shrubs should be done immediately after flowering to ensure a dense display of blooms and promote new growth.
Pruning ground cover shrubs during summer after the foliage has matured is needed to reduce size and increase density. Active powdery mildew, fire blight plant diseases, and dry foliage are the usual signs shrubs show to tell us that they are ready for summer pruning. Pruning ground cover between late summer and early winter is total torture because new growth will eventually be unable to withstand fall frost and winter freeze, leading them die from desiccation. As a rule of thumb, pruning should be avoided when the temperature is below 20°F.
The method and amount of pruning ground cover is dependent on the type of species. Vines like ivy and winter creeper can be pruned with lawn mowers with newly sharpened blades set to the highest setting. Pruning winter creeper need not be done vigorously since only a thinning of branches is needed. Shrubs that grow vigorously like the Asian jasmine need constant pruning to keep them from going haywire with their growth.
Pruning ground cover is done mainly for two reasons: first, to remove week branches and unattractive growth and maintain vigor; and second, to keep them within the areas intended for them. Ground covers are used to establish clear contrasts between areas and to serve as subtle backdrops for other plants. Overgrown ground covers only serve as eye sores reducing their aesthetic purpose to nil.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about pruning and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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