With glorious beaches, year-round sunshine, and a seemingly endless supply of vibrant properties, Florida is a wonderland of natural beauty. The climate in the Sunshine State simply lends itself to flourishing Plant life and lush landscapes. It’s one of the many compelling reasons to love the Tampa Bay area.

Even in places like Florida, where plants and people thrive, it takes knowledge and hard work to maximize potential. Making the most of your property, for example, requires a bit of landscaping expertise and a lot of consistency.

If you want your commercial property or residential landscape in Tampa Bay to be healthy and look its best, rejuvenation pruning can make all the difference. In fact, some of the plants populating your property may benefit greatly from this pruning technique.

Everything You Need to Know About Rejuvenation Pruning

Pruning your plants, including your shrubs and trees, is an essential part of keeping your landscaping healthy. Like anything else, healthier plants look better and live longer. Often, plants just need consistent care to thrive. Other times, more drastic action is required to help them return to their peak condition.

In the latter situation, Rejuvenation Pruning is a go-to method for helping mature plants continue to flourish.

What is Rejuvenation Pruning?

Unlike common (sometimes called “formal”) pruning, which is conducted on a regular basis to maintain a particular shape or look during the blooming season, rejuvenation pruning takes place on an annual basis and is far more aggressive in nature. Rather than strategically trimming throughout the year, rejuvenation pruning occurs during the plants’ dormant months.

In addition to the differences in consistency and timing, rejuvenation pruning is more drastic than standard pruning. This approach involves removing a large proportion of the plant’s structure, including its height and foliage. Anywhere from 50% or more of the plant may be removed, making rejuvenation pruning a very aggressive form of landscaping care.

Despite its seemingly harsh approach, rejuvenation pruning is not done indiscriminately. Instead, an experienced landscaper will prescribe it to plants that need and will benefit from such measures. Not all plants respond well to this type of pruning, so it is important to utilize the technique strategically. Once a plant is chosen for rejuvenation pruning, the age of the plant will be a factor, as will the size of the plant material. Based on all these evaluations, the landscaper will then selectively remove the correct height and foliage.

Sometimes, this pruning is done all at once—this is called hard pruning. Other times, it is done over several sessions—this is called gradual pruning. The method chosen will depend on the plant, how recently it has undergone rejuvenation pruning, and a handful of other considerations determined by the landscaper.

What are the Benefits of Rejuvenation Pruning?

Because rejuvenation pruning is an aggressive form of pruning that can, admittedly, leave plants looking a little lackluster initially, it’s important to understand the advantages of the technique. The good news is that there are several benefits of rejuvenation pruning when it is used strategically and correctly. With some thoughtful implementation under the guidance of a Tampa Bay landscaping professional, this style of pruning can improve your property dramatically.

• Rejuvenation pruning gives plants a fresh start. This is especially important when the plant in question is a bit older or overgrown. By removing a significant portion of the plant, it is given an opportunity to grow back stronger and more aesthetic.
• Plants that receive this type of pruning often look and act younger than they did before being pruned. With old parts of the plant removed, space is created for new growth to occur. These new shoots are typically healthier and more vibrant.
• Rejuvenation pruning makes unruly plants more manageable. By hitting the reset button, the plant can be crafted into a more desirable shape. Once accomplished, this newly-beautiful plant can be maintained.
• Plants that have been aggressively pruned tend to grow back more vibrantly and to flower more often and profusely. If a plant has lost its bright colors or begun to blossom less frequently and with fewer blooms, a rejuvenation prune may be just what it needs.
• If a plant has become unsightly, rejuvenation pruning is a phenomenal way to bring it back to beauty while temporarily removing it from sight. Because this type of pruning removes a high percentage of the plant, it can be easily disguised by other landscaping features until it recovers.

When to Perform Rejuvenation Pruning

Knowing which plants are in need of rejuvenation pruning is an absolutely vital step before committing to this technique. In addition to identifying the plants that will respond well and need such pruning, it is important to know when to perform it.

Because of the aggressiveness of this type of pruning, it can be stressful for the plant. As such, choosing the right time to rejuvenation prune is key, as is ensuring you don’t do it too frequently is essential. Overdo it or time it incorrectly, and it could have the opposite effect than desired.

Rejuvenation pruning should be done during a plant’s dormant season. Typically, this means right before spring because you want to prepare the plant for fresh growth. In Florida, this seasonal shift is not always as obvious as it is elsewhere. Working with a professional landscaper can ensure that the timing is right for your plants.

It is also important to remember that most plants do not need rejuvenation pruning on a yearly basis. Instead, it is usually more effective with three to five years between each pruning of this variety.

Caring for a Plant After Rejuvenation

Once rejuvenation pruning is complete, a plant must be properly cared for in order to recover and flourish. Thankfully, setting your pruned plant up for success is as simple as sticking to the following.

• Keep it hydrated, especially if the weather is hot and dry. This is particularly important in Florida where the heat can be a significant factor.
• Because the plant may be in a slightly weakened state, you should be wary of diseases or pests. If either of these problems occurs, be sure to take care of them quickly.
• Have a professional evaluate the soil around the plant in question. If necessary, use fertilizer to provide the right nutrients.

Expand Your Landscaping Horizons with Landcrafters

Rejuvenation pruning is a powerful tool that can transform your landscape for the better. It can take even the scraggliest shrubs and elevate them into an integral piece of your property’s aesthetic vision.

Maintaining a stunning Tampa Bay landscape doesn’t have to be challenging. With Landcrafters’ 20 years of experience and a team of experts on your side, your property can reach its full potential and stay there year-round. To learn more about rejuvenation pruning and how it can benefit your Tampa Bay property, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll gladly discuss your landscaping goals and needs.

We also encourage you to visit our blog. We update it regularly with landscaping tips, tricks, and insights, all available to you at absolutely no cost. If you want to expand your landscaping knowledge and learn from the best, our blog is a fantastic resource.