Shrub care in Sturgis, SD brings many questions, especially with the wild weather blowing off the Bear Butte foothills. A-1 Tree answers a ton of questions about shrub care throughout the year. Keeping your property in shape requires knowing the right timing and methods for Tree Service and shrub maintenance.
When is the absolute best time to trim shrubs in Sturgis?
Late winter or early spring right before new growth starts is prime time for most deciduous shrubs in Sturgis, SD. Plants are dormant at this time, which allows you to see the structure without leaves blocking your view. These plants also heal up fast before the summer heat hits. Spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs require waiting until right after they finish blooming so you do not clip off all of this year's flowers.
How low can I cut my overgrown hedges without killing them?
Property owners should not take off more than a third of the plant's total size in a single season. Massive, woody overgrown caragana or juniper hedges sometimes frustrate homeowners, leading them to shear the plants right down to stubby little sticks. Unless the plant is a specific renewal-tolerant species, you will likely shock the plant or just end up with dead branches. Taking it slow over a couple of years is necessary if you need to drastically reduce the size of shrubs in Sturgis, SD.
Why do my shrub leaves keep turning brown after I trim them?
Brown leaves usually happen because of sunscald or severe drying winds. When you cut back dense outer foliage, interior branches and leaves that have not seen direct sunlight suddenly get blasted by UV rays and dry air. Trimming during dry spells around Sturgis means you must give those bushes a deep, thorough watering right after you are done to help them recover.
Should I seal the cuts after pruning my bushes?
Leave the cuts alone. Tree and shrub paint or wound sealants used to be popular, but modern arboriculture research shows that plants actually seal themselves much better naturally. Slathering gunk on cut branches just traps moisture and pests inside, which invites rot and disease. Nature handles this process very well without artificial sealants.
Can I trim my shrubs in the middle of summer?
Light shaping and clipping stray branches is totally fine all summer long for Sturgis, SD properties. Heavy pruning when temperatures reach ninety degrees and conditions remain dry is a bad idea. This heavy work forces the shrub to push out tender new growth right when the plant is fighting to survive the heat and lack of moisture. Save the heavy structural work for the dormant season.
How do I keep deer from eating my newly trimmed shrubs?
Mule deer and whitetails love roaming through Sturgis neighborhoods, and tender new shoots after a trim look like a gourmet buffet. Pruning actually stimulates fresh, sweet growth that attracts them. Property owners often need to use physical cages, commercial repellents, or plant deer-resistant varieties like boxwoods and potentilla when managing wildlife pressure in Sturgis, SD.
How often do most local yards need shrub maintenance?
Maintenance frequency depends on what you planted on your property. Fast-growing species like cotoneaster or spirea need at least a couple of trims a season to stay thick and neat. Slower evergreens might only need a light touch once a year. When plants start to block your windows, scratch your siding, or look like a tangled mess, it is definitely time to grab the shears or give A-1 Tree a ring for Tree Service in Sturgis, SD.