April is a good time to prune broad-leafed evergreen shrubs. This will improve their density, can restore, rejuvenate and reshape, or just to give them a bit of a tidy up. Most evergreens can be pruned at any time from now until mid-September. However a spring prune gets the best response, especially when a hard, restorative prune is required.
A common misconception is that evergreens don’t drop their leaves. They do, just not all at once. They shed the oldest foliage throughout the year to varying degrees. However most evergreens drop the greatest amount in spring and early summer coinciding with the new season’s vigorous flush of growth. If left unchecked some species can quickly become leggy after their spring leaf drop. This is especially true of species like the Photinia as they tend to produce the new growth at the shoot tips and shedding what’s below or behind. A spring prune can be used to force them to reshoot lower down and thicken up again.
To avoid damage, don’t prune evergreens during a cold snap. Also bear in mind nesting birds. Not only would it be ethically and environmentally undesirable to disturb nesting birds but it is also illegal. Therefore, you should always check for nesting activity first before pruning dense evergreens and delay if necessary, until August if you have to.
Many of the more vigorous evergreen species such as laurel and Photinia are also quite hungry plants. They can often be a little starved for nutrients at this time of year, especially in their first couple of years after planting. A balanced feed such as Fish, Blood and Bone applied twice per year, once in March or April and then again in mid-June, will help to keep them growing well. It will also encourage them to quickly reshoot after pruning.
For key signs of nutrient deficiency, such as yellowing of the foliage, then a bigger “boost” in spring may be required. You should apply a suitable high-nitrogen fertiliser, and perhaps followed by an application of Epsom Salts for a jolt of Magnesium, to restore a lustrous green.
Need specific advice? Just ask!
If you have any specific concerns about pruning your evergreen plants, please get in touch. We’d be delighted to offer our suggestions for your needs and site conditions. Simply contact us at enquiries@wykeham.co.uk or call 01723 862406.