Show Butchering Shrubs Dont Don't butcher your shrubs with pruning shears A good many well meaning gardeners gardeners' do just that TO PRUNE correctly it is necessary to know something of the growth habits of shrubs They may be divided roughly into two groups The larger group includes the early spring bloomers In this group the flower buds were formed last fall Call and are ready to burst into bloom as warm weather approaches Thoughtless Thought Thought- less pruning at this time of oC year naturally may remove many of oC the flower buds Since spring flowering shrubs renew themselves from new shoots arising at the base one of oC the essential operations is isto isto isto to remove enough old growth each year to assure proper development development de de- de of growth IN THE second group are the late bloomers In this type the flower buds are produced produced produced pro pro- on shoots of the present present present pres pres- ent seasons season's growth Pruning Pruning Pruning Prun Prun- ing these shrubs in early spring does not remove flower buds because they have not yet formed Hydrangeas Hydrangeas Hydrangeas geas butterfly bushes bishes and are in this class Clip off the faded flower clusters of French hybrids I IThe The production of seed is an unnecessary drain on the I plant ALONG WITH proper pruning pruning pruning prun prun- ing remember your shrubs need a good feeding of oC plant food in the early spring |