March Landscape Maintenance
March is a great time to get out the pruners, loppers and saw. First, make sure they are sharp. One of my favorite quotes is "it's better to trim at the wrong time with a sharp pruners than at the right time with a dull one." Clean cuts heal much faster than jagged cuts....
In March we are going to prune deciduous shrubs to remove any dead and broken branches, rejuvenate them and control their size. In my yard, plants do not get to decide how big they will get, I do.
Small deciduous shrubs such as most Spirea, Potentilla and Barberry can be cut back severely as low as twelve inches from the ground. Annabelle Hydrangeas can be cut back to the first pair of buds above the ground. Shrubs grown mostly for their foliage such as Euonymus, Viburnum, Ninebark, Winterberry, Chokeberry and Sumac should be thinned out to improve airflow and light penetration. After thinning they should be cut back to maintain the desired size.
Shrubs that flower in early spring such as Lilacs, Rhododendron, Azaleas and Forsythias will have to wait until after they flower to be trimmed. This is also a good time to remove last years growth on your ornamental grasses. March is your last chance to do dormant pruning of Oaks, Apples, Crabapples, Pears and Hawthorns. These plants are susceptible to disease invasion if pruned at the wrong time.
Snowstorms in March produce wet, heavy snow and it should be removed from evergreens. The best way to safely remove the snow is to tap the evergreens with a broom.
Hockey season is almost over and the rinks will be melting soon. So grab your pruners, it's time to start trimming. Again feel free to email me with any specific maintenance questions or for any other landscape needs.
Jeff Hauer, Landscape Designer and Owner