“Urban Compromise” Shrub Pruning

Urban Compromise is a unique type of shrub pruning that has been developed and fine-tuned by The BIG Oak over 25 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” (yeah, that’s a mouth full).  Because many shrubs in urban properties cannot grow to their natural, genetic size, we must make some adjustments through “Urban Compromise” shrub pruning (to simplify).

Basic Guidelines and Principles

  • Use natural pruning whenever possible.

  • Try to enhance the 5 F’s of shrubs.

  • If a shrub is in the wrong location, lean towards replacement versus pruning (less hassle long term).

  • Not all shrubs need to be pruned at the same time (assess flowering, age of shrubs, purpose of shrubs, et…)

  • Not all shrubs need to have new growth pruned off.

  • Absolutely MUST consider shrub rejuvenation for many shrub types to manage overall height and size (dogwood, lilac, viburnum, etc..)

Note regarding shearing from The BIG Oak =

If shearing pruning must be used…….

#1 Limit when possible

#2 Do not prune overly aggressive (light shearing can be OK)

#3 At least prune at the right time of year.

Urban Compromise Shrub Pruning is NOT for everyone.  I enjoy Minnesota Wild and Gopher hockey as much as the next guy, but hockey pucks are for the ice (not the landscape). OK, fine. Maybe outside the Excel Energy Center hockey puck shrubs are acceptable. If any of the following items are desired, 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 immediately after growth.

  • Pruning at wrong time which eliminates the benefits such as fall color.

  • Pruning that disrupts shrub flowering (except rejuvenation pruning).

Naturally pruned juniper shrubs

Picture shows a slightly natural juniper hedge. It is still being contained within the landscape bed, but still has a natural feel.

Tor spirea

A Tor spirea being maintained somewhere between natural and formal pruning given its location and age. Shearing this spirea into a tightly-shaped ball would be non-sense and will decrease flowering and health.

Picture above shows a viburnum planted in a location that is too tight for its natural height and size. Simple reduction cuts can keep this shrub contained to the bed but still looking natural for years. It does NOT need to be sheared twice per year into a tight ball. Full rejuvenation to ground level every few years should also be considered to maintain its overall size.