In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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February 19, 2008

Don't prune yet

Q: I have several plants - hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, artemesia - showing new growth or buds, below where they died back for the winter. Should I prune back now or wait a little longer to be sure of no freezing?
Jean Stiarwalt, Rocklin

A: I too see new growth - finally - on my hydrangeas. Ditto mums and artemesia. And I did recently succumb to the temptation to cut the old, dead growth away on the hydrangeas in pots on the deck. I would say the same applies to ones planted against the house since those are in protected areas where I don't have to worry so much about freezing temperatures.

I prune back to one of the lower buds so the plants come back nice and bushy.
The artemesia, however, can be pruned back pretty heavily. I have Artemesia 'Powis Castle,' and I give it a good shearing every year and it responds with the most beautiful silvery growth and stays compact and bushy all summer.

However, plants in the main part of the garden remain unpruned. I'm giving a bit more time. Then when I'm sure all dange of frost is past, probably early April, I'll be out there, pruning shears in hand, clipping away.

So wait a bit longer.....spring really is weeks away even if February does tempt us with mild weather and sunshine.

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