Renewal Pruning

To renew a large overgrown shrub, remove 1/3rd of the oldest and/or largest branches near the base of the shrub. Continue this process over a 2 to 3 year period until all the old branches have been removed. In following years, maintain the shrub yearly by removing one or two of the oldest and/or largest branches near the base. This process is best done during dormancy. Either early spring or mid-late fall is typically the best time for this type of pruning in our Wisconsin weather. If done in early fall, pruning may stimulate tender growth that is then damaged by frost or cold weather.

Some shrubs that respond well to renewal pruning are-

• Red Osier Dogwood 
• Gray Dogwood                                                   
• Spirea
• Pussy Willow
• Ninebark
• Privet
• Barberry
• Hydrangea
• Chokeberry
• Forsythia
• Kerria
• Mockorange
• Quince
• Lilac
• Euonymus and many more!

Note: Evergreens, in general, do not respond well to renewal pruning. Do not renewal prune your evergreens. Most evergreens do not grow from pruning cuts made deep in the interior.

Before – overgrown hydrangea, infiltrated with seedling tree volunteers.

After – renewal pruning done after hard frost as the shrubs were entering dormancy