How to Prune Old Shrub Evergreens
Pruning old evergreen shrubs promotes a healthy plant, free of damaged, diseased and weak branches. Without proper pruning, these shrubs will often expand beyond designated planting areas or take on an undesirable shape. Choose a time in late winter or early spring to prune your shrub, allowing new growth to get underway and harden up before winter conditions. Have an idea of the right shape for your shrub. There are many types of evergreen shrubs, and knowing more about their natural shapes can help guide your pruning. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Inspect the shrub for damaged or diseased branches. You can tell the wood is alive if you scrape the branch and see green right underneath the brown bark. Use sharp pruning shears, lopping shears and a pruning saw for removing these areas.
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Make your downward cut 1/4 of an inch above the healthy bud. Cut to buds that are pointed outward from the shrub. When cutting to the main trunk of the shrub, make an angled cut to avoid leaving a stub.
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Thin out the crown of the evergreen shrub to promote air circulation. Cut the weakest branches first. Remove any branches that are rubbing against each other.
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Use your fingers to pinch half off of new growth that is two inches long, in order to thicken the shrub. Refrain from using shears because they can damage the needles, turning them brown.
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Trim any branches that are touching the ground, extending beyond their designated growing space or rubbing against an outdoor structure.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep you shrub symmetrical by stepping back every so often as you prune, examining the shrub to make sure you haven't taken off too much on one side.
Remove all pruned foliage from underneath the shrub to avoid providing an appealing environment for pests.
