Researching shrub and bush pruning companies? If you find yourself looking for a shrub pruning company you may also be wondering how often you need to have your shrubs, bushes, and trees cut back. The answer is that it depends on a variety of factors, including the types of plants you have, the kind of look you would like to create, and the health of your plants. However, you don’t want to pay for unnecessary trimming so we decided to help you by creating this guide. Landscaping experts local to the greater Houston area can help you determine the ideal trimming and pruning schedule.
How Often Do Bushes & Shrubs Need Pruning?
The Texas climate is mild and warm for much of the year. This causes bushes, shrubs, and trees tend to grow fast, even during the spring and fall months. To keep your yard looking neat and tidy you should get your shrubs trimmed twice a year. Most people hire their landscaping professionals to refresh flower beds at least once every quarter, but you might need trimming more or less frequently.
Since every plant is different, it’s hard to tell exactly how often you should ask your landscaping professionals to trim your shrubs, bushes, and trees. If in doubt, give your local professionals a call. A team member from Living Trees & Shrubs can visit your home and evaluate your plants, then let you know what trimming schedule we recommend.
Trimming vs Pruning Bushes & Shrubs
Two terms people often get mixed up are trimming and pruning. Trimming is the process of tidying up a hedge or shrub by removing unwanted branches or by cutting the bush down to limit its growth. It is mainly done for aesthetic appeal, to keep your shrub looking neat and tidy, and it can be done many times throughout the year.
When you prune a tree or shrub, you cut off excess or dead branches that are posing a health risk, either to the residents because the branches might fall down, or to the tree itself because they are diseased. Pruning is often more invasive than trimming because larger bits of the plant are removed. For this reason, many gardeners only prune their trees and shrubs once or twice a year.
Because most people think trimming and pruning are the same thing, the words are often used interchangeably as if they are.
Cutting Back Flowering Plants and Bushes
Evergreen shrubs are easy to trim because they will simply grow back the same. However, some plants flower at certain times of the year, and you should be more careful about trimming or pruning them because you don’t want to stunt the growth of the buds. For people who aren’t professional gardeners, it’s often hard to tell when they should cut down their plants since there is so much variation across and even within species.
For example, many types of azaleas bloom once a year, so trimming them back right after they have flowered is best. However, there are some variations that bloom twice, so they will need to be cut down twice a year. Similarly, Hydrangea shrubs bloom at different times of the year, and you will need to adjust your pruning schedule depending on the type of plant you have.
Fall Bush Pruning
Many experts believe that pruning and trimming your plants in the fall, once the leaves have started to drop, is ideal. In many cases, it is true that landscaping is best done in the late fall. In the spring, when shrubs and bushes start to grow again, your plant will be able to concentrate on producing flowers and healthy leaves instead of putting its energy into dying branches.
However, not every plant needs to be pruned in the fall, and some benefit from being cut down at a later date. This is especially true for bushes and shrubs that flower later in the season. When you call your landscape experts in the fall, these plants might still be flowering, and it would be a shame to cut them back at that time. Therefore, you might need several appointments if you have various kinds of plants.
What About Trees?
Proper pruning is crucial if you want your trees to stay in good shape. Your Houston-based tree service company will remove any dead branches, check that there are no signs of disease, and trim your tree into your preferred shape.
Pruning schedules for trees are often are similar to that of shrubs, so you can combine the process by having them done the same day. While you might need to have your shrubs trimmed several times throughout the season, it’s unlikely that your trees will need to be cut back more than once or twice a year.
Do I Need to Call a Pro?
Avid gardeners often wonder whether they need to call a professional to prune and trim their plants or whether they can do it themselves. While you might excel at taking care of your garden throughout the year, pruning is a very specific skill, and it’s always best to hire a professional who can make sure it’s done the right way.
A good landscape gardener can analyze each plant to make sure there are no diseases, and they can cut away all the dead portions. What’s more, they can anticipate future growth, so they will cut your shrub in a way that encourages it to grow into your preferred shape. Because professionals have all the knowledge, tools, and equipment needed for trimming and pruning, the process is much less risky than if you do it on your own.
Shrub Trimming Services Near Me in Fulshear, TX or Katy, TX
Finding experienced landscape designers can be a challenge, but a good place to start is the internet. On the website, you can see whether a firm offers the services you need and how long they have been in operation. For example, we at Living Trees & Shrubs have been working in the area for over 32 years, so we have plenty of experience with the local climate and flora.
What Services Should I Ask For?
Aside from shrub trimming we may recommend some our additional services if we determine they are needed. Other landscaping services we provide include tree pruning, installing root barriers, and sprinkler system installation. If you feel that your garden is currently disorganized and not meeting your needs, why not ask us to redesign it? We will help you create a space that is beautiful and functional.
For example, we can help you install a pool, or we can plant trees that can accommodate a swing for your children. What’s more, we are happy to incorporate green ideas, so your home becomes a haven for wildlife in your area.
Give us a call at Living Trees & Shrubs in Fulshear, TX and Katy, TX to schedule a consultation with one of our landscaping experts.
