“Urban Compromise” Shrub Pruning
Urban Compromise is a type of shrub pruning that has been developed and fine-tuned by the BIG Oak over 27 years of experimenting and adjusting all parameters of shrub pruning. Its baseline definition would be “a combination of natural and formal shrub pruning to maintain or improve the health, flowering, fall color and appearance of shrubs within the limited growing space of urban landscapes at the proper time using good decisions”. Because many shrubs in urban properties cannot grow to their genetic size, we must make some adjustments through “Urban Compromise” shrub pruning.
This type of shrub pruning is NOT for all HOA’s and associations. If any of the following are desired by homeowners and board members, your expectations will NOT be met by this pruning:
Aggressive shearing of all plants at the same time
·Shrubs contained into small balls, boxes and hockey pucks
New growth must be removed soon after growth
Pruning very early in fall which eliminates the benefit of fall color
Pruning that disrupts shrub flowering (except rejuvenation pruning)
A question from The BIG Oak to see if Urban Compromise shrub pruning is right for your property;
Do shrubs look their best or worst immediately after pruning?
If you answered “best” to this question, Urban Compromise is probably not the type of shrub pruning for you. Proper pruning is meant to stimulate growth that will help shrubs re-grow into their maximum potential for flowering, fall color and overall shape. If you answered “best”, it is most likely you would prefer a more “formal” type of pruning, in which the shrubs are consistently “shaped”, which is not really pruning. Assuming shrubs DID look their best following pruning, a shrub would only “look good” for a few weeks all year long. As soon as they re-grow they theoretically no longer look their best. Shrub pruning is a yearly continuum and a tool to help shrubs look their best for the majority of the year, not for the few weeks after pruning.
These juniper shrubs were actually sheared into a box hedge and then let go for 2 months. The regrowth (which is desired) returned the junipers to a more natural look. They are not super wild and are contained within the bed.
Even though these junipers barely fit into their landscape bed, the new regrowth following pruning gives the hedge a “softened” look which will remain for months.
Shrub Pruning Timing
For most properties, 3 shrub pruning visits can handling the majority of shrub pruning needs. These timings would allow for maximum shrub health, flowering and fall color. A sample yearly outline for pruning timing would look similar to the following:
Early spring (late March through early April) to prune back hydrangea, shrub roses and perennials / grasses left over winter (if included). Also, any shrub rejuvenation pruning usually in 3 year cycles.
Early to mid-summer (late June through end of July) to prune all shrubs as needed after flowering including all evergreens PLUS all spring and summer flowering shrubs.
Late fall (mid-October through early November) to mostly prune deciduous shrubs that have ample summer re-growth following the enjoyment of fall color.
For further information The BIG Oak regarding shrub pruning timing, see the my blog specifically discussing timing.
Rejuvenation Pruning
Rejuvenation shrub pruning is basically the term for cutting shrubs to ground level (or very low) in hopes of “rejuvenating” entirely new shrub growth. Similar to perennials like daylily, hosta and ornamental grasses, most shrubs can be cut to the ground in early spring and new growth follows. Rejuvenation is a crucial (and mandatory) part of Urban Compromise shrub pruning and should be a part of all landscape maintenance plans.
For further information from The BIG Oak regarding rejuvenation shrub pruning, see my blog specifically discussing rejuvenation.
Lilac shrubs in June during their flowering period.
These yews were hand-pruned to contain them to their landscape bed. This picture is approximately 1 month after the pruning. They have a uniform, consistent look but are softened due to the wispy regrowth.
