Take Care When Pruning Evergreen

Project No. 320: Pruning a 20-year-old, overgrown evergreen shrub. Case in point, a gold thread cypress. The task at hand is to reduce its size by one-third and expose the inner framework.

A project of this magnitude called for long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, combat boots, leather gloves and a hat with earmuffs. The tools of choice were loppers of two cutting strengths, a pruning hand saw and hand shears.

Since the plan was to work on the shrub from the inside out, the first step was to develop an entrance to the bowels of the plant. Outer branches were pulled aside and held in place against my backside while my gloved hands stripped the dead debris from under the shrub. This was tedious work. The little twigs inside the shrub that lined the larger branches scratched and pulled at my clothes and any exposed skin. Since most of them were dead, they were simply snapped off wherever possible.

The live, leafless twigs had to be removed with hand shears.

After an hour or so, a tunnel had been carved into the shrub exposing three modest trunks. From somewhere below these trunks, large branches had rooted and were growing prostrate along the ground. They had to go. Not only because they weren’t necessary, but also because they were killing my knees.

Next to be removed were all the branches along the trunks from ground level up about a foot or so. By this time, it was amazing how much branch material had been taken out of the shrub and what a difference it was making in its appearance. It was wonderful. All of a sudden, there was structure and framework. There were three 4-inch trunks supporting a canopy of handsome branches. The branches were covered with soft pillows of cascading green foliage.

Still, there was more work to be done. Either by laying on my back under the shrub or standing upright in its middle, each branch had to be thinned and feathered like a good haircut. Some of the decisions for removal could be made quickly, others required scrutiny so I stepped away from the plant to view it from different angles.

After four hours, and the displacement of about 60 spiders, the elimination of four banana slugs, the building of a mountain of limbs and the collection of 20 years of misplaced treasures (flower pots, a potato chip bag, toy cars, golf balls and my long-lost pruning shears), we now have an outstanding shrub with character and grace. This is how you give an old shrub a new lease on life.

A weed or not

Most of us are familiar with nettles. Their stinging bite can cause painful burning and itching. Yet the nitrogen-rich foliage is an excellent soil builder. As the leaves decompose, the rich humus is said to be as potent as manure.

Their leaves can even be brewed into an excellent tea for fertilizing the posies. (Wear gloves to gather the leaves.) Simply steep a pound of nettle leaves in a gallon of water for a week. Not only is the tea a good source of nutrients, but because nettles have the ability to attract beneficial insects and ward off some undesirables, the tea can also work as a natural pest repellent.

According to folklore, nettles promote the growth of some vegetables and increases the quantity of essential oils in some herbs.

If you happen to get stung by the tiny hairs covering the leaves, rub your skin with a slice of onion or a piece of rhubarb.

Though most of us consider nettles to be a noxious weed, they may be one weed worth cultivating.

Out and about

The Washington State International Gladiolus Show will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Finch Arboretum. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

This is a judged show with more than 200 glads on display. Exhibitors will be coming from British Columbia, California, Nevada, Idaho and Washington.