Paul and His Pruners

Another dogwood in James' yard that needs pruning is a red-twigged shrub known as Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata'. This is an excellent shrub that is hardy to Zone 2 and produces gorgeous variegated green and white foliage. The red stems provide winter interest, but the red wood is most vivid on new growth (figure C). While dormant, James prunes the stems back to almost ground level (figure D). "It looks drastic, but these plants will bounce back in no time."

The same goes for this yellow-twigged dogwood known as Cornus sericea. It too benefits from this radical pruning every year (or at least every other year), just before it breaks dormancy in late winter (figure E).

Another type of odd branch growth is as harmful as it is unsightly. Suckers are branches that emanate from the base of various trees and shrubs, and they often suck energy from the plant. "Now, some plants are more notorious than others for producing suckers," says James, "but one of the worst culprits in my landscape is Philadelphus or mockorange." The plant is hardy to Zone 5 and grows to about eight feet tall.

At least every year, you should give your pruners a little maintenance, too. Clean the blades thoroughly with a rag soaked in turpentine to remove any sap, and scrub them well with steel wool to eliminate rust. After that, apply any kind of oil to the blades, and don't forget to add a few drops of oil to the bolt that holds the two blades together.

"And that's important," James continues, "because a sharp edge makes a sharp cut. And a sharp cut heals much faster, which means your plants will be a lot healthier. Plus, your pruners will last a lot longer." James has been using the same pruners for 25 years, "and with any luck, they'll serve me well for another 25 years."