Having various shrubs and bushes in your yard can mean that your care schedule for pruning is going to be booked up at various times of the year. But if you’ve both holly and late-blooming Rose of Sharon in your yard, pruning times could just line up for you, letting you get things done more efficiently.
Dead Wood
The good time of year to get rid of dead or dying branches is everywhere. Whether you are pruning a holly or a rose of Sharon, if there’s dead wood, it has to be pruned out when you notice it. As they are unhealthy, the branches could have infection that may spread into more regions of the plant. You also don’t want to let the plant waste energy trying to sustain a branch that’s just not worthwhile.
Pruning Evergreen Holly
Evergreen holly trees or shrubs are typically pruned in the late autumn or late winter, while they are inactive. The timing of when you prune depends on if you want those pretty red berries as part of your Christmas decorations. Pruning in the autumn could mean that you trim the holly prior to the grasses fully form, but should you wait till closer to Christmas, you will have your decoration and a well shaped holly, as well. Waiting also allows the some of the grasses to fall and develop new hollies for future transplanting.
Pruning Deciduous Holly
Deciduous holly, unlike the evergreen varieties, lose their leaves in winter, but are similar to other hollies in every other way. Producing red berries in the autumn and green leaves in spring, it might appear difficult to find the ideal time to prune them. Waiting until late winter or early spring for normal pruning of a deciduous holly allows berries to form and fall into the ground and leaf or leaf buds to develop after pruning. Trimming these hollies in the late autumn will not harm the plants, and should you have other pruning to perform at this time, it might be simpler for you to prune them at the same time. But this will keep berries from developing and forming new plants.
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon comes in several varieties and produces late summer to late autumn blooms. As it’s a late-blooming plant, the blooms always form on the current season’s growth. Trimming the plant in winter, although it’s still inactive and prior to any new growth types keeps your rose of Sharon thriving every year. Waiting any more could result in a year without flowers.