[header] How to prune arborvitae [title] Shear in early spring. [step] Early spring is a good time for heavy pruning because new growth hasn't started yet. When new growth does come in, it will hide the cuts you made in the tree.
[header] How to prune arborvitae [title] Shear in early spring. [step] Early spring is a good time for heavy pruning because new growth hasn't started yet. When new growth does come in, it will hide the cuts you made in the tree.
When it does come in, make sure you trim it back until the tree reaches it's maximum number of buds. [substeps] If possible, remove only the deadhead because not fully exposing it to sunlight can cause it to rot. The shear process produces new growth and often removes visible roots, making them a bit more resistant to pruning. [substeps] Shear younger mature arborvitae at three years old. [substeps] To shear the plant, go over the whole plant with your pruning shears. Trim the tips off all of the branches to create a more even shape. Since the pruning time is usually split between december and march, pruning too early will startle or even kill a healthy tree and remove most of its foliage. [substeps] If you can't prune after april, this is a good time to take a pruning before christmas so as not to sneak in.