As our gardens start to shape up with new flowers and seedlings, one important step people sometimes skip is pruning their trees and shrubs.

Part of this is a philosophy that says “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Why bother to prune if there’s no immediate problem, like your tree is about to head into some powerlines or your shrubs have taken over a walkway. (There are several good reasons, which I share below).

The other problem is that many people don’t feel confident in their pruning techniques. If that’s the case, keep reading for some basics and tips that will help.

First of all, why prune? Most important are those safety reasons – removing dead or cracked branches that are threatening to fall or making sure living ones aren’t growing into areas where you don’t want them. But pruning also helps maintain the health of your tree or shrub and increases the yield of flowers or fruit. Why? Because proper pruning will shape the tree to allow for optimum growth. 

Early spring is the perfect time for pruning because most plants are just starting to wake up and run sap, which means they’ll be photosynthesizing, which will allow them the energy to recover from the pruning cut. For deciduous plants, there’s the added benefit that it’s easier to see what you are doing because the trees are bare. However, if you have a spring blooming tree or shrub, you should wait to prune until after it is done flowering. 

One important rule of all types of pruning is this: never prune more than one third of the plant. Prune more than that and you run the risk of damaging the plant, or at least stunting its growth. 

Types of Pruning Cuts for Deciduous Plants

Because many kinds of pruning cuts are made near a growth bud, you have to know how your plants grow in order to determine where to cut. There are three types: (1) a terminal bud grows at the tip of a shoot; (2) a lateral bud grows alongside the shoot; and (3) a latent bud lies dormant beneath the bark. If a branch breaks or is cut off near it, it may develop into a new shoot.

Once you determine the type, you can choose one of these four pruning cuts to keep it healthy.

• Thinning – This is when you remove an entire branch or stem, taking it back to its point of origin or to a juncture with another branch. These cuts eliminate competing or old stems, reduce overall size, and open up a plant’s structure.
• Heading – Heading cuts remove just part of a stem or branch – not the whole thing. Such cuts can be made back to a bud or to a twig and it stimulates the growth of lateral buds just below the cut. 
• Shearing – Clipping a plant’s outer foliage to create an even surface (like with hedges or a topiary). It’s kind of an indiscriminate form of heading, because it doesn’t involve precise cutting just above a growing point.
• Pinching – This is the simplest of pruning cuts. Using your thumb and forefinger or a pair of hand shears, you nip off the tips of new growth, removing the terminal bud. This stops the shoot from growing longer and stimulates branching. Pinching is used primarily on annuals and perennials to make them bushy and encourage the production of more flowers.

What to Do with Conifers

Part of the allure of evergreens is that they are usually low-maintenance plants. A little periodic pruning, however, can keep your conifers healthy and looking their best. When thinking about pruning conifers – or any plant for that matter – it’s good to remember the old adage, “measure twice and cut once.” In the case of conifers, it’s “think twice and prune once.” 

Here’s the really important thing to remember: there is no place for “recreational pruning” of conifers because they don’t replace growth like other trees and shrubs; pruning is always done for a particular purpose, like keeping a particular look, removing dead or diseased branches or controlling the size if they are threatening to grow into other plants or buildings.

Have more questions about spring pruning? Visit or give us a call if you need some advice – we are always happy to help.

Happy Gardening!
Misti

Typically, I write to you about bulbs during the fall to remind you to plant the ones that are coming up right now – things like tulips, crocus, daffodils and irises. It’s always heartbreaking when we get people in the nursery around this time of year looking for tulip bulbs and we have to break it to them that they missed getting them into the ground in time.

But getting your spring-blooming bulbs into the ground in time is only half the story. You also need to know how to maintain these plants once they’ve poked their pretty blossoms out of the soil.

Here are some tips:

• You need to keep the soil moist but well drained. You don’t want to allow the bulb to dry out during this time as it will affect how long the blooms will last.
• Once they are done blooming, it’s important NOT to cut back the unsightly foliage, because this is how the bulb stores energy in order to bloom next year. Instead, you can fold the foliage over and secure it with a rubber band to hide it.
• Another way to make areas with spent bulbs look more attractive is to plant other perennials to hide the foliage. I love using pansies and violas, since they look beautiful paired with bulb flowers and both can take our current cold nights.

It’s also good to remember that spring bulbs aren’t the only ones around. There are summer blooming bulbs, like begonias, caladium, dahlias, gladiola, elephant ears and more. So you can still plant some spectacular looking bulbs this year, but understand the planting process will be a little different than for spring bulbs.

Right now, summer bulbs can be purchased, but other than edibles like onion, scallions and garlic, these summer-blooming bulbs are tropical. Unlike spring bulbs – which not only like, but need cold weather – these summer bulbs can’t take the cold. That means they shouldn’t be planted outside until the threat of frost is over – which, as we know, can be well into spring in Flagstaff.

We suggest planting in containers inside and moving them out towards the end of May. The general rule of thumb is, if it’s time for you tomatoes to go outside, it’s time to plant your summer bulbs.

And, unlike your spring bulbs, chances are you’ll need to plant new bulbs every spring for summer blooms.

Whether you are enjoying your bulbs in the spring or summer, they are a beautiful addition to any garden.

Happy Spring!
Misti

Happy Valentine’s Weekend.

For you lovebirds out there, I know this year might present unique challenges in finding a gift for your significant other.

A nice romantic meal at a restaurant is probably out. Cut flowers are lovely but don’t last long. And let’s face it – many of us have already put on some pounds during the pandemic, so chocolates might not be appreciated.

Can I suggest a beautiful flowering plant as an alternate Valentine’s gift this year? It has all the romance of flowers except it lasts longer and will be happily blooming long after you’ve finished off that box of Lindt or Whitman chocolates.

We’ve got a great selection of flowering houseplants at Warner’s right now, ranging from the easy-to-maintain to the exotic. Impress your beloved with one of these:

• Anthurium – an almost perfect Valentine’s Day plant, with leaves and deep red flowers that are heart-shaped.
• African Violets – petite and pretty, these cute plants are easy to cultivate in a small space.
• Flowering Jasmine – while not all jasmine flowers are fragrant, the variety commonly used for growing jasmine indoors has a sweet aroma, particularly at night. 
• Cyclamen – For centuries, these plants have been associated with matters of the heart. In fact, ancient Greek lore talks about using the plant to make food that would cause a person to fall madly in love. (Do NOT attempt this; the plant is not meant to be eaten and in fact consuming it raw could make you sick).
• Orchids – Exotic and elegant, these beautiful flowers make a statement. They are also perfect for a loved one who suffers from allergies; orchid pollen is not airborne. Instead it is stored in a waxy substance on the plants, making them essentially hypoallergenic.

If you need help picking out the perfect flowering plant to present to your loved one this weekend, our staff is ready to help with advice and suggestions.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Misti

Winter may be one of the best times for bird-watching. With the foliage down, it is easier to see and enjoy your backyard residents.

While certain species like hummingbirds migrate to warmer climates in winter, there’s still a rich diversity of birds to see year-round.

These birds could use your help to make it through the winter, and here are a few tips that will make their lives a little easier with the cold weather.

Warmth: Birds have a bunch of different strategies to keep warm in winter. Some grow additional feathers. They “fluff” themselves to create air pockets that increase the insulation ability of their down. Some even slow their metabolism to conserve energy, and more social birds like chickadees huddle together in the night.

• You can help by keeping bird boxes clean and keep trees that have cavities, which are popular nesting spots.

Water: During the winter, fresh water is crucial to a bird’s survival. While birds can eat snow, that costs them precious energy. Plus water is valuable not only for drinking but for preening. Those extra winter feathers won’t help them if they can keep them clean.

• You can help by keeping at least one birdbath in the garden that is consistently filled with fresh water. A heated birdbath is a plus, but more importantly place your birdbath where the birds will be safe (i.e., not near a place where predators like cats can hide and then pounce).

Food: Birds spend more calories to keep warm in the winter and therefore need more nourishment.

• You can help by providing a variety of food through your garden vegetation and feeds. Suet, thistle, sunflower seeds, dried berries, fruit and seed assortments that are readily available will benefit a diverse population of birds. Also, if you have a dying tree, think about keeping it (unless it’s a hazard) this winter. These trees are great places for birds to find insects to feast on, and their cavities make great resting places.

We hope you and your birds are enjoying this winter. We’ve got a great selection of bird food, feeders and baths that can help you help the birds this winter.

Happy gardening (and bird-watching),
Misti