Stay calm
Think and stay calm when you’re pruning. The picture above is poached from an online group. I thought it was worth composing a blog post about it because the landscaper stopped to ask questions. The boxwood mounds look fine; they give us a tight, formal look. The euonymus on the right also got sheared; it sends out shoots so it’s ok to clip it back into shape.
Now, that leaves the Sedum in the foreground. Unsure of how to proceed, the landscaper paused, correctly. I’ve witnessed some carnage in my time. One example was mid-season pruning in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The dudes walked in with power shears and levelled every shrub running along the back upper fence line of the property. They never questioned their plan, perhaps they never had a plan.
The Philadelphus shrub had finished flowering so it was good to go; the Buddleja davidii was about to flower and put on a show, but, sadly, it wasn’t to be a great show; and even worse, the Callicarpa shrubs were about to flower: left alone, the tiny flowers turn into purple berries, which persist into fall, and look stunning. This example shows that you can’t power shear your landscape shrubs indiscriminately. Think and stay calm.
Back to our Sedum
Sedums are succulent plants that shouldn’t be power sheared. The only maintenance we do on them is after flowering, late in the season, when the stems collapse. That’s when we cut them back. But don’t rush it. On the West Coast our Sedums look awesome covered in frost. Waiting also gives you late season work.
The Sedums in the picture also give us a softer look, next to the sheared balls. It’s a nice contrast as opposed to having everything sheared into tight shapes. Plus, the flowers are about to mature and put on a show. So, I’m glad the landscaper here stopped to ask questions. Do the same. Know exactly why and what you’re pruning. Your landscape and clients will thank you for it. Be great!
