Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Dealing with Ravenous Critters and PestsPart #5, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Sally--
My well-overgrown Junipers need a pruning back SO BAD!!!
I usually hand-prune it--so when i am done--it does not look like
it was cut back at all.

I dread going "in there"--as so many invisible, biting "things" are all over
these shrubs. I guess Evergreens harbor many, many insects...

I just acquired a 17", Homelite Hedge trimmer for FREE--and I am
thinking---I could use it to do fast work on these Junipers--
BUT--I hate the thought of them looking clipped. Like Lollipop
shrubs....Yech!

So--on a REALLY cool day--I will don a long-sleeved T-shirt, gloves
and thin long pants and go at it with a hand-pruner.
This may not be an option, though--as lately, all the joints of my fingers have
decided to "act up" with painful Arthritis. Pruning will hurt like H---!

Will deal with it the best i can....like i always do.

These Juniper shrubs came with the house--in 1969.
I have kept them "manageable" over all these years by hand-pruning them back
every other year. Did not get to do it this spring--so they look all ratty!

1&2--The hand-pruned difference....two different views..from 2009.

3&4--The Junipers today--sorely in need of pruning...

5--Never got to pruning the Canadian Hemlock nor the Boxwoods by my
front door either. Will still try to do it--but it will not re-grow any more..

Gita