Table of contents
- time
- need
- frequency
- Optimum time
- ideal conditions
- procedure and maintenance
- Pine clippings
If solitary conifers or a conifer hedge are to be trimmed, there is a lot of conflicting information about the best time for the measure. This is confusing and can even harm the plants.
time
Not only with conifer hedges, but also with solitary plants, it must be noted that the plants are habitats used by animals. Hedges but also densely growing trees and shrubs are used by birds, among other things, as sheltered nesting sites. Due to their growth, nests are rarely directly noticeable before cutting.
The Federal Nature Conservation Act therefore prohibits radical blends in the period from 1 March to 30. September. Careful care cuts, such as removing dead or damaged shoots, however gentle topiary cuts, in which the length of the branches is only slightly shortened, are also year-round permitted.
A notice:
In many cases, especially with evergreen plants, it is not immediately obvious that a bird has chosen the plant as a breeding ground. A check should therefore also be carried out before maintenance or shaping cuts are made and the trimming should be postponed by a few weeks if necessary, even if it is permitted. However, the precautionary measure is to not disturb the animals.
need
Basically, this depends on the type of conifer and the legal conditions at the place of residence. Dwarf forms take up little space and naturally grow very densely. They are therefore also suitable for the balcony and smaller gardens and usually do well without any waste.
They include, for example:
- Dwarf moss cypress, Greek cypress – Chamaecyparis pisifera
- dwarf mountain-foot, creeping pine – Pinus mugo pumilio
- Dwarf Arborvitae, Dwarf Thuja – Thuja occidenalis
- Dwarf Conch Cypress, Hinoki Cypress – Chamaecyparis obtusa
- dwarf juniper – Juniperus procumbens
- creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
- Sugar Loaf Spruce, Ball Spruce – Picea glauca
- dwarf yew – Taxus cuspidata
- stone pine – Pinus cembra
Even with the slow-growing and small-remaining variants, there is a large selection and numerous different growth forms and colors due to cultivated forms. This should be considered before deciding on conifers, because a common problem with conifers is that they quickly become too big for the location.
If they are only then blended, the shape can suffer greatly and even holes can appear. When cutting into old wood, these bare spots no longer close. The optics remain permanently impaired. In these cases, regular trimming of the young shoots is the better option.
frequency
If a conifer needs to be pruned to maintain the desired shape and size, one to two annual prunings are recommended, depending on growth rate. Slow-growing varieties get by with an annual care cut. Fast-growing variants, such as the Thuja, on the other hand, should be cut back twice a year. Only the new, young shoots are removed.
This procedure has several advantages. These include, among others:
- Protection of the plant due to low loss of mass
- Cutting line clearly recognizable by the color difference
- Shape and size are efficiently limited
- lower expense
Tip:
If you are still inexperienced in cutting the conifers, you only have to pay attention to the color of the shoots. Young shoots are significantly lighter than older sections. If only these are cut off at the transition border, there is no danger of holes and bald spots.
Optimum time
The first cut of the year can be carried out with almost every conifer after the first budding in spring up to early summer. The care measure should be carried out by June or early July at the latest. This means that the young shoots can still be easily distinguished from the older branches and the risk of pruning too radically is significantly reduced.
The second cut - if necessary - can be done in late summer or early fall. Again, the timing should depend on when young shoots are present. The last opportunity to carry out a grooming cut is at the end of September or beginning of October at the latest. Otherwise the conifer lacks the strength to adequately prepare for the winter.
ideal conditions
Whether the conifers are cut in spring, in late summer or at both times - in any case a suitable day should be chosen for the care measure. Things to avoid are:
- frost
- blazing sun
- high temperatures
- persistent drought
A dull, cloudy day with moderate temperatures is ideal. Because the interfaces burn and dry out very quickly, which can lead to unsightly brown tips and balding.
procedure and maintenance
Pruning a conifer is easy in itself, as long as the correct procedure is followed and the plant is subsequently given appropriate care and care. The following steps and factors should be considered:
Use a clean cutting tool
In order not to transfer any diseases to the fresh cuts, only clean cutting tools may be used. It is best to disinfect them before cutting.
Pay attention to the sharpness
The blades of hedge trimmers or garden shears must be sharp so that the shoots are not crushed and drying is delayed or germs and pests can penetrate. If necessary, it can be sharpened again directly before cutting.
pay close attention to transitions
The lighter, younger shoots give a good indication of where to cut. Twigs that are already woody should not be injured, as this not only prevents new shoots, but also brown or bare areas.
Plan growth restrictions
The top of conifers in particular should only be trimmed when the desired growth height has been reached. Because after shortening there is no further budding upwards. In order to still create a shapely look, care should be taken right from the start to cut the plant in such a way that it tapers upwards. An exception here is the conifer hedge, where clear lines and dense growth are also visually appealing.
Cut regularly
Frequent and regular cuttings are important, as only the young shoots are cut off without causing damage to the crops or risking brown patches and bald patches. It is therefore better to carry out a grooming cut annually or twice a year than once every two years.
Observe subsequent fertilization
Even if the pruning or topiary is carried out and only a few shoots are lost, the strength and reserves of the plant are still reduced. The conifer should therefore be supplied with nutrients afterwards.
The following are suitable fertilizers after cutting:
- horn shavings or flour
- compost
- conifer fertilizer
- stable dung
- bedrock meal
Tip:
Floating watering is recommended to avoid chemical burns and to promote an even distribution of nutrients. However, this should not result in waterlogging.
Pine clippings
Pines are an exception to the blend. The young shoots of this type of conifer can easily be snapped off with your fingers to preserve the shape or size. Blending is therefore not absolutely necessary. The removal of the light green shoots can also be done gradually over several days or even weeks. This procedure is generally gentler on the plant.
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