How to prune a Barberry Bush?
How to prune a Barberry Bush?
Their attractive shrubbery and robust ability to stand most weather.
They thrive when exposed to full sunlight and are an impressive addition to any garden.
However, it is no secret that pruning them can be especially dangerous.
Those who are less familiar with their sharp little thorns.
These spikes are capable of causing nasty cuts and scratches if you aren’t careful.
So, let’s take a look at how to prune a Barberry Bush in the safest way possible.
To make sure that you aren’t having to find any bandages once you have finished.
We’ll also look at the best possible shaping of the Barberry Bush.
To make sure that it is getting full exposure to all that sunlight that it craves so much.
Firstly, and probably most obviously.
You are going to need to protect yourself against those devil thorns.
So make sure you invest in a pair of good quality thick gardening gloves before you go anywhere near the Barberry Bush.
It’s also a good idea to team your new gloves with a thick cotton long sleeve shirt too.
Because those thorns have a nasty way of finding any exposed skin and pouncing on it.
So make sure you’re fully covered before you try to prune the Barberry Bush.
Next, you need to determine what exactly it is that your Barberry Bush needs because each one is different.
Some require some simple shaping to make it look that much more lovely.
Others simply a haircut to stop the top from looking too messy.
You’ll know what your bush needs based on how it looks, so don’t be afraid to get up close and check it out (now that you are properly protected of course).
Getting on your hands and knees and looking for any new branches.
At the bottom can tell you if you need to rejuvenate the plant by trimming the weaker branches at the top.
If there are no new branches towards the bottom.
Then it is likely that your Barberry Bush is wasting energy on the weaker branches towards the top.
Make sure to cut these back if you want to make your Barberry Bush as healthy as possible.
You will know what looks healthy and what doesn’t for your individual Barberry Bush too.
So be confident that you know what’s best and get stuck in.
Besides, one of the best things about the Barberry Bush is its resilience.
Chopping off a branch unnecessarily isn’t going to do any lasting damage, so don’t be afraid to trust your instincts.
The Barberry Bush will bounce back from even the most vicious of prunings, so you needn’t worry.
If it looks unhealthy in any way, or as though the foliage has died.
Simply remove it to encourage your plant to focus its energy on maintaining its healthier branches.
Rather than preserving its damaged or dead ones.
Doing this will seriously improve the long-term health of the Barberry Bush.
Make sure to be vigilant for anything that doesn’t look healthy.
You will also need to shape your Barberry Bush if you have let it grow without controlling it.
It’s easy to forget sometimes what the natural shape of the bush should be if you’ve left it to grow for a while.
The Barberry Bush works at its best when it is thinner at the top and wider towards the base.
Allowing direct sunlight to as much of the bush as possible and keeping it looking healthy.
Not only that, but this style is generally the more attractive and simple way of styling the Barberry Bush.
Be careful with the clean up too.
It is a well-known fact that the Barberry Bush is as stubborn as it is resilient.
So any stray shoots or leaves are more than capable of forming a new Barberry Bush.
If you aren’t careful you could find your garden filled with them.
Being careful with the clean-up is also important when thinking about those little spikes.
Be sure to place any offcuts in a thick yard waste bag for disposal.
So that anybody handling it doesn’t inadvertently get stabbed by those pesky spikes.
