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cut to the groundPruning is usually carried out to encourage more fruit or flowers, but a number of deciduous shrubs are grown for their brightly coloured stems during winter. These require severe pruning in spring to produce fresh stems for next winter. |
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 | The age-old tradition of coppicing was carried out to provide a renewable source of fire-wood, long pliable stems for basket making, and fencing material, but is now carried out to enhance leaf colour, leaf size and stem colour.
There are two methods of hard pruning carried out - Coppicing involves cutting back all growth regularly near to the ground. |
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Pollarding leaves a framework from where the new shoots will grow - commonly seen on large trees such as limes.
Just as growth commences in early spring, coppice shrubs by pruning all shoots to within 5cm (2") of the soil. Pollarding shrubs and trees is based on exactly the same principle, yet at the height you wish to start the new growth at. This pruning can be done each year, or every other year.
That's it! But be aware that the shrub will not be the prettiest specimen after this. Yet it is necessary to ensure a cracking show of colour next year.
Shrubs suitable for coppicing include;
Cornus alba
Corylus maxima
Cotinus coggygria
Eucalyptus species
Rubus cockburnianus
Salix alba
Sambucus
Don't be afraid to cut to the ground!
Linette Applegate.
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