Madison Originals Magazine Madison Originals Magazine May 2014 | Page 43

in the back of borders or as property
line hedges allows them to be stars in
bloom and then become background
structure for the landscape when their
flowers fade. Along with enough room
and sun, old-fashioned flowering
shrubs need proper pruning to reach
their full glory.
Shearing or “meat balling” old-fashioned
shrubs will limit their impact and may
ruin their flower display and natural
form. Renewal pruning, the removal of
1/3 of the largest canes at ground level,
and gentle shaping maintains the shrubs’
natural form. It’s best to shape shrubs
right after flowering to avoid cutting off
the buds that form for next year’s bloom.
Along with performing maintenance,
pruning just before flowering can be a
real treat because the branches can be
taken inside to enjoy. Timing is critical
when cutting for bouquets; be sure to

cut just prior to bud break when the
buds are swollen and showing color.
I recut the branches and pound the
new cut to open up the end and
allow for better water up-take before
arranging them in a vase of lukewarm
water. These extra steps will help force
the flowers and greatly increase the
length of the display.
Another consideration in planning
for and planting your old-fashioned
flowering shrubs is the bloom time. You
can extend the flowering season and
create different combinations of color
and fragrance by selecting different
varieties. A favorite combination of mine
is the late s