Trimming Bushes That Have gotten Too Tall 

If you have a bush that is getting too tall, you can take steps to keep it under control. First, thin the growth, removing any unwanted branches. Then, cut the remaining stems back to the base. Trimming a bush is a good way to improve air circulation while maintaining the bush’s shape.  

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Thinning cuts remove undesired growth 

A thinning cut is a pruning procedure that involves removing a portion of a shoot or branch. This removes unwanted growth and stimulates new growth. A heading cut is the opposite of a thinning cut, which removes the entire shoot or branch at its base. A heading cut encourages new growth and encourages a bushier plant. 

Reduction cuts are used to train young trees and to control the direction of growth. They involve removing a branch and replacing it with a lateral branch. This lateral branch should be a third or half the diameter of the terminal branch removed. This reduces the risk of decay on the remaining branch. Reduction cuts do not result in stubs and allow more light to penetrate the plant’s structure. 

Thinning cuts are best if the plant has a dense growth habit. The removal of unwanted growth will make the plant more attractive and decrease the likelihood of disease. It will also reduce the chances of it becoming too tall. However, you should avoid pruning a bush too much if you do not want to risk causing it to die. 

Cutting back to the base of stems 

If you want to get a more uniform look, you can prune your bushes by cutting back to the base of the stems. Cutting back to the base of the stems will encourage your bushes to send up new branches and start a new growth cycle. Depending on the species, you can cut back the stems six to 12 inches from the base. 

When trimming bushes that have gotten too tall, it’s important to make sure you don’t prune too much. While cutting back is the most common method, there are several different types of trimming, which you can choose to use for different purposes. Shrubs can be pruned in three basic ways: thinning, pruning, and removing dead and dying branches. Shrub thinning removes unnecessary growth from the inside of the plant, which promotes more interior growth and reduces disease. This method is also beneficial because it doesn’t stimulate excessive new growth. 

The best time to prune bushes is in the winter or early spring before the bushes start growing new growth. When trimming a shrub, always make sure to prune it to the base of the stems, as cutting too much can shock the plant. Depending on the type of bushes, winter pruning will work best for summer blooming bushes, while early spring pruning is best for spring blooming shrubs. 

Trimming bushes that have gotten too tall is a great way to keep them healthy. Cutting back to the base of stems is the best way to prevent lopsidedness, as it allows the sunlight to reach the lower branches of the shrub.