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Fall Pruning Time

Out of control landscapes need a little pruning but hurry to get the job done before the really cold weather arrives. Most plants need some recovery time after the trimming to sprout buds and mature the new tender shoots before possible frost or freezes. 

Fall pruning usually includes removing storm damaged and diseased tree limbs. Often the broken branches can be eliminated with pole prunes but some may be too large or too high in the trees to reach. It's best to leave the more difficult trimmings to a professional. 

Shrubs
Many shrubs also have declining limbs that need to be removed. Others have overgrown sidewalks and are now intermingled with nearby plantings. Gardeners can use this time of the year to reduce the height and width of the plants to just what's needed to keep them inbounds. It's best to delay more severe pruning until late winter or early spring.

For some plants including azaleas, bougainvillea, camellias, gardenias and poinsettias pruning time is over except for an errant limb or two. These have flower buds present or will be forming them shortly. Delay their pruning until after flowering if over.

Fall is a good time to give all plants seasonal care to get them ready for the winter months. Here are a few more tip to help get your landscape back in shape.
Renew mulch layers to conserve moisture as we enter the drier months.
Pull and trim weeds overgrowing shrubs and flower beds.
Check and adjust irrigation systems to be ready for the dry times.
Feed palms, shrubs, vines and ground covers with a general garden fertilizer at the label rate
Replant shrubs, trees and ground covers as needed to fill in the bare spots.
Renew the edge on flower beds and along walkways.

Now is also a good time to check all plantings for major pest infestations. Where mites, scales, whitefly and other problems are noted a low toxicity oil spray can be used to gain control.