With the threat of yet another snowstorm on the horizon (we’re expecting up to 10 inches of snow/ice Tuesday into Wednesday), I made the executive decision to “get shit done” early this morning. While I only had about a half hour available, I like to think I made the most of the time.

Pruned the Red Twig Dogwood

I have an ‘Arctic Fire’ red twig dogwood and for years now, I’ve been pruning it to the ground each spring. Without fail it reaches four to five feet in height by summer and still shows off those bright red stems each fall/winter.

So here she was today, pre-cut.

And within five minutes, she looked like this.

Fun fact: I planted bulbs in front of the ‘Arctic Fire’ many years ago so they could fill the empty space and distract from the red stump in spring.

The daffodils continue to come back year after year and make me look like a genius year after year.

Fun fact #2: I save all of the cut stems of the dogwood and bring them indoors for decorative display. My genius knows no end.

By early May, ‘Arctic Fire’ shows signs of growth.

And rapidly grows all spring/summer.

Pruned the Ninebark ‘Diablo’

Another annual March event is the “selective” pruning of the Ninebark (Physocarpus) ‘Diablo’. I cut the older branches to the ground, which typically results in about 2/3 of all the branches being removed.

The “to-be-cut” branches are grayer in color and display more peeling bark.

This keeps this large deciduous shrub small enough so it doesn’t overtake all of the other plants in my foundation bed along the front of the house. Unfortunately this is the only area in the garden where it will thrive as the deer rarely find it here. I’d love to leave it alone and allow it to grow to the max but it would get devoured in any another location in my garden.

While the red twig dogwood pruning is brute force, the ninebark pruning is more of an artistic endeavor. I don’t follow any guidelines. I just know.

Here he is this morning, before I attacked him with a sharp object.

As you can see, he stayed within bounds this past year. Good job by me.

And here is post extreme haircut.

He may look sad and awkward now, but within weeks, he’ll be back to his handsome form.

Eventually making a big statement as that dark foliage dominates and contrasts beautifully with its neighbors.

Task 1 : Cut down the Redtwig Dogwood

As hard as it is to say goodbye to those killer red stems, it’s time to move on now that spring has arrived.

I cut the stems of this shrub to the ground each spring and without fail, it grows back rapidly through spring and summer. This keeps the shrub’s size within bounds since I have it in a tight spot along the foundation of the front of my house.

This is what it typically looks like by summer.

The severe pruning also aids in providing the reddest of stems that upcoming fall/winter.

That task was completed today.

Task #2: Prune out the oldest stems on the Ninebark

This is another pruning task I conquer each spring. I cut roughly 2/3 of the old stems on this Ninebark ‘Diablo’ to the ground with the goal of limiting the ultimate size of this rapidly growing shrub.

You can easily identify the older branches by their lighter color and heavier peeling bark.

Another task completed today.

BEFORE

AFTER

Again, I do this so this Ninebark doesn’t outgrow the somewhat limited space I’ve provided for it along my foundation. By pruning it in this manner, it doesn’t get too monstrous and looks like this by the time it stops growing in summer.

Task #3: Clean up the dead foliage around the perennials

A lot of hand pruning and pulling but it’s all worth it after seeing all of that delicious green new growth.

Task #4: Cut down the ornamental grasses

For today, I stuck with the grasses that could easily be handled by hand pruners. That consisted mostly of Karl Foerster grasses.

Task #5: Observe

Observe the bulbs developing in a see of Bee Balm rosettes.

Observe the Golden Ragwort quickly throwing out growth and hopefully flowers in the next few weeks.