Most desert landscape shrubs are pruned more frequently than needed. This makes them less attractive, and is bad for their health and longevity. There are 5 good reasons to prune a shrub, and several bad ones. Learn the difference.
If you’ve lived elsewhere you may be used to pruning your shrubs frequently as a matter of course. But things are different in the desert!
Your rule of thumb should be “Never prune without a reason.”
Shrubs should not be put on a regular pruning schedule, despite what your “landscaper” tells you. There’s no need to prune a shrub if you’re happy with its size and appearance.
Here’s why frequent pruning is hard on your shrubs.
How Over-Pruning Harms Your Shrubs
Every time you cut a shrub, it causes a wound and leaves it more susceptible to diseases, infestations, and sun scald. Sadly, over-pruning can eventually lead to a shrub’s premature demise.
Regular pruning and especially shearing causes the insides of the plants to get woody and removes future flowers. And by removing leaves, you’re denying the plant the energy it needs to survive.
Texas ranger is a good example of a potentially beautiful flowering shrub that is usually overpruned.
Which of these shrubs would you rather have in your yard? The one with purple flowers? Or the weird green cube?
The “5 Ds” of Pruning
Before you take pruners to your shrub ask yourself this question…”Why am I pruning this?“
You should have a good reason beyond that’s what I’ve always done, I want to get yard debris out for Brush & Bulky day, or that’s what my landscaper recommended. (Of course he did!)
Good reasons to prune fall under the “5 Ds” of pruning — dead, diseased, damaged, dangerous, or deranged.
I realize this list sounds like a subtitle to a zombie apocalypse movie, only not quite as exciting. 😅
Dead
Dead branches should be obvious, but if you aren’t sure, scratch the bark with your fingernail. If there’s still life, you’ll see some green. If it’s dry and brown, that branch or that part of that branch is dead. Prune it back to live wood.
Diseased
Diseased branches can have witches’ broom, or various kinds of infestations (fungal, bacterial, viral, insect). Removing diseased areas is important since it can help prevent the disease from spreading.
Stop the spread!
Always disinfect your tools between cuts
& after working on plants that may be diseased.
Damaged
Damaged is a catch-all phrase for harm not caused by diseases. It can include natural causes such as the damage caused by wind, hail, sun scald, or freezing temperatures.
It can also be caused by anything from your landscaper’s improper use of power tools to critters chewing on the bark.
Dangerous
Branches that are potentially dangerous to people or property should always be removed.
Branches can rub against your house or scratch vehicles. They can pose a hazard to drivers by blocking the view.
They can hang over sidewalks or other high-traffic areas. Thorny shrubs or those with branches at eye level are especially dangerous.
Deranged
I love that deranged is a category! 🤪
This could mean water sprouts or suckers, or branches that are rubbing each other or growing at a weird angle.
Constantly Pruning? Time to Reconsider
Of course, most shrubs need an occasional trim to shape or rejuvenate, but if you’re constantly pruning a shrub to keep its size within bounds, you’ve got the wrong plant in the wrong place.
It might be time to cut your losses and consider removing it and/or replacing it with a plant the appropriate size for that spot.
Looking for the right plant for your spot? You’ll find comprehensive plant profiles for dozens of the most popular and beautiful desert landscape shrubs in our Plant Library. These profiles will tell you everything you need to know to decide whether a shrub is a good fit for the spot you have in mind including it’s size at maturity.
Did you enjoy this article?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
where you’ll find more great info on creating &
maintaining a beautiful, carefree desert landscape.
Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
