Decorative shrubs add a nice look to your landscape all year long. If you want to improve the look of your landscape and home you will want to follow three essential tips for maintaining your decorative shrubs.

Pruning

Pruning your shrubs is an integral part of their care. Pruning is vital to maintain the health and size of your decorative shrubs. Pruning removes all broken and damaged parts. Removal of crossing branches or weak branches will help increase the air and light to lower leaves. Pruning helps to keep the plant in its own space and to stop it from overcrowding other plants in the landscape. Early spring is the best time for major pruning jobs because the branches can easily be seen and the plant will callus over the cut easier. Pruning will remove the flower buds so prune flowering shrubs after the blooms are spent. This will encourage new growth and more flowers for next year. If the plant blooms in the summer or fall, early spring pruning is the best as this allows plenty of time for new growth to happen. It also leaves enough leaves on the plant to produce and store nutrients for the winter. The University of Missouri provides some helpful information on pruning ornamental trees and shrubs.

Fertilizing

Fertilizer provides the needed nutrients and minerals that help the plant produce growth and perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the plant’s way of making food. Fertilizer does not need to be done regularly. It is done when the soil is suffering from an imbalance. The first step to proper fertilization should always be to do a soil test. Use the information from the soil test to tell you what kind of fertilizer to use.

Check for Pests and Disease

You should check for pests and disease on your decorative shrubs. Doing so in early spring will help you get ahead of a problem before it gets worst. This should be done regularly all year long.

Schneider Tree Care provides a variety of services related to pruning, fertilization, and the diagnosis and treatment of insects and disease. Contact one of our neighborhood arborists today to learn more and see how we can help make your landscape beautiful all year long.