Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Really July blooms, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
catbird--Thanks! I am plugging away pruning all these shrubs. it is brutal work--especially the Hemlocks. I had to teeter on ladders to get to the top and crawl between the house and the bushes to trim that side--my 5' ladder in hand.

I really topped the Hemlocks! Cut a good 2' off the tops--down to bare nubs. Looks ugly, but it will re-grow. I just have to keep them a presentable height, as I like to put X-mas lights all over them--if I get to it....If I don't--i don't!

Today I did one of the Junipers.....That is all hand-pruning! Cutting each and every stem off by hand with my pruners so it still looks "natural" when i am done. Got the other to go yet.....Then i shall be done!

Here you can see the before and after pictures of the 2 Junipers.....I like the wispy look of all the new growth, but you just cannot let it go! Considering these came with the House 40 years ago--I think what I am doing is working......They have stayed fairly attractive.....Now--the back side is another story!!!!!!

See the hemlock on the left? Se the sorry, bare stem sticking up at the top? It is quite thick and I just cannot trim it off any more......

The left Juniper got trimmed today--the right one will be--whenever i get to it.....