How to Hard-Prune Shrubs for Fuller Growth

Pruning, an integral part of maintaining the health and vigor of a plant as well as its visual attractiveness, can add years to a shrub's life. If left to grow wild, many shrubs become unkempt, showing an outwardly overgrown appearance with a thin, sparse interior that weakens the plant. Standard yearly pruning typically stimulates new growth, but cutting only a small amount from the shrub simply causes it to become fuller in the exterior and may exacerbate the problem. Renovating or reshaping a shrub to correct thin growth typically requires hard pruning, also called renewal or severe pruning.

Pruning shears
Pruning loppers
Mulch

Instructions

Quick Renovation
- 1
  Cut shrubs down completely to between 6 and 12 inches from the ground in the spring, before new growth appears. Make sure to cut just above an intersecting branch or new bud to avoid creating dead stubs.
- 2
  Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base of each shrub to provide extra nutrition.
- 3
  Prune new shoots, if desired, only after they reach between 6 and 12 inches long in the summer. Trimming 2 to 3 inches from the tips of the shoots can stimulate additional lateral branch growth for a smaller, more compact shrub.
Staggered Renovation
- 4
  Cut one-third of the oldest shrub stems down to ground level in the spring. Mulch each shrub immediately.
- 5
  Cut one-half of the old stems down to ground level the following spring. Prune all new shoot growth to the desired height. Add mulch around the base of each shrub.
- 6
  Cut all of the old stems down to ground level in the third spring. Prune new shoots to the desired height, then add mulch.
- 7
  Prune regularly each spring to maintain the shrub's new shape.

Standard Underplantings With Hydrangea

Rejuvenation in Pruning Lilacs

Shrubs

How to Hard-Prune Shrubs for Fuller Growth

Instructions

Quick Renovation

Staggered Renovation