Virginia Green Grow Beyond Blog

A lush, bright green lawn is one of those things that can really make a homeowner proud. Few people want to buy property that doesn’t have a lawn of some sort. It’s one of the reasons that so many real estate agents tell sellers to clean up their yard as a way to boost their property’s curb appeal. In a way, the lawn is like a status symbol of sorts that comes with home ownership. 

When Do I Prune Spring Shrubs? 

Why Prune? 

Pruning is the selective removal of specific plant parts for the benefit of the whole plant. Some reasons to prune are to train a plant, maintain plant health, improve the quality of flowers, fruits, and stems, restrict growth, remove damaged and diseased branches, and to increase air circulation that can decrease specific plant diseases 

What are Common Tree & Shrub Issues in the Summer? 

In Virginia, we often notice several common issues involving your plant material during the summer. In most cases, these issues are already present but become more prevalent during the summer due to heat stress. In the image below, you’ll see lace bug damage on the underside of plant leaf. Lace bugs are very small insects, measuring only about 1/8 inch long, however they can cause considerable damage to the foliage of ornamental shrubs and trees.

When Should I Prune Trees and Shrubs?

While you can generally prune dead, diseased, or damaged branches year-round, it’s important to prune at timely intervals to create healthy blooms in Trees and Shrubs.   Pruning cuts should be made with a sharp pruning tool that’s appropriate for the job and should be limited to no more than roughly 25% of the tree canopy. 

Proper pruning paired with Virginia Green’s Premium Tree and Shrub Program will help to provide you with healthy plants in your yard and keep them looking good year round. 

How Can I Identify Scale on Plants and What to Do About Them? 

It can be tricky to identify scale as the cause of your plant’s deterioration because there is generally no movement throughout a scale insect’s life cycle. If you suspect scale, the best thing to look for is unusual bumpy growth on the stems and undersides of the leaves. Brown shell-like scale can indicate an infestation. You might also see evidence of a sticky substance called honeydew or sooty mold. Ants might also appear on these plants as they are attracted to the honeydew.

How to Prune Boxwoods 

Boxwoods are beautiful shrubs which can enhance and beautify your landscape. Often used as a hedge, they can form a screen against unsightly views. Like most shrubs, boxwoods need dead or crossed branches cleaned out and removed, as they can restrict healthy growth.