Today, I tackled the burning bush in my front yard. It was getting a bit out of control, so I decided it was time for a good pruning.
First, I made sure I had the right tools. A pair of pruning shears for the smaller branches and a pruning saw for the thicker ones. I also grabbed my gloves because, you know, thorns.
Getting Started
I knew I wanted to do this in early spring, just as new growth was starting. That’s what I read was the best time, and I didn’t want to mess it up.
I started by looking at the whole bush and figuring out which branches needed to go. I focused on the ones that were crossing each other or looked dead or damaged.
- Snip, snip, snip. I started with the smaller branches, cutting them back to a point where a new bud was facing outward. I read somewhere that this helps the bush grow in the right direction.
- For the bigger branches, I used the pruning saw. I cut about 1/3 of the old canes near the base. Took some effort, but I got them.
A Bit of Rejuvenation
This bush was pretty overgrown, so I decided to do a more severe pruning, also called rejuvenation pruning. I cut the whole bush down to about 1-3 inches from the ground. It looked drastic, but I know it will help it grow back fuller and healthier.
After I finished cutting, I cleaned up all the branches and made sure everything looked tidy. I also applied some treatment to a few of the larger cuts to prevent any diseases, I used a spray bottle with some glyphosate. I think this will help kill the root system of the weeds.
It was a bit of work, but now my burning bush looks much better and should be much healthier in the long run. Plus, I got a good workout in the process! Now, fingers crossed it grows back beautifully.
I’m no expert, but I think it went pretty well. Just followed what I read online and used a bit of common sense. Hopefully, this helps someone else who’s thinking about pruning their burning bush!
