How to Prune Most Common Evergreens

We love potted Evergreens!

These planters add beauty to the simplicity of the plant and the plant stays green all year long which compliments the planter!  The best of both worlds!  The only thing we can’t stand is seeing a beautiful pot with an overgrown, scraggly, lopsided evergreen.  So, if you properly prune them on a regular basis they will look their best for years to come.

Here are some tips like what parts to trim, how much to take off, and when is the best time to trim.

Whether the plant is pine, spruce, rhododendron, or camellia, you need to know where the new growth will originate.  Then trim away any dead branches, cut back to live wood or the base of the plant.  Cut off broken or damaged branches and remove any crossing or rubbing branches.

Arborvitae – Fast growing, tolerates heavy pruning.   Prune in early spring, and reduce a branch by no more than one-quarter its length.  New growth will emerge from buds along the pruned branch.

Boxwood – Thinning is key to maintaining.  Dense growth in the interior of the shrub can cause disease.  Thin it out by cutting overgrown stems no more than one-third each year.  Lightly prune to the desired shape.

Camellia – Slow-growing rarely needs pruning.  If it gets lanky, encourage new growth by trimming each branch back by no more than one-quarter of its length.  Cut just above a node.  The best time to prune is after it flowers.

Pines – produce new growth at the branch tips in spring.  To keep it compact prune each new growth back by one-third to one-half its length.  Don’t prune into woody stems because new growth won’t develop there.

Spruce – Prune in Spring.  Reduce the length of branches by cutting each one back to a lateral branch or bud.  Bottom branches will die with age and can be removed.

All plants take care and upkeep.  The best way to showcase a healthy plant is with a stunning garden planter.