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T he winter landscape is considered by many to be a sleeping landscape. Aside from the winter weeds, there isn't much that calls for our constant attention. This is the time when I can admire those subtle landscape features — peeling bark of the river birch trees, bright red berries on the leafless native hollies and that overgrown monstrosity of a shrub at the corner of my house. Wait, what? As our landscape sits ready to explode into spring growth, there is still time to realize and resolve to manage the issues that perhaps we've ignored too long. Let's talk about pruning! SERIOUS CUTBACKS AHEAD Pruning has several functions in the landscape. A common reason for pruning is the need to resize or reshape a plant . When the incorrect variety of holly or loropetalum is planted by the foundation of the house, it doesn't take long to realize that annual pruning will be on the February/March garden chore list . When large plants are allowed to outgrow their space near a building, rejuvenation pruning is necessary. Rejuvenation pruning refers to the process of resizing larger plants to a manageable size, usually dictated by space — or lack thereof. Certain shrubs can withstand being pruned back to 12-24 inches during the dormant season. Aesthetically, the appearance of the landscape might not be ideal while the plants recover, but the long- term look will be worth it. Winter is also an optimal time to do lighter pruning to thin plants and improve their shape during the winter months. This time of year, avoid pruning plants that produced flowers on "old" wood that grew during the last growing season. This includes azaleas, forsythia and quince. Prune these Macon favorites after they bloom in spring. GREEN THUMB TIPS WINTER IS A GREAT TIME FOR PRUNING SHRUBS BY KAROL KELLY | PHOTOS BY ALLISON GRIFFIN There is so much more to share about pruning. If you have particular questions, we are happy to help. Please send questions about gardening and landscaping to hello@maconmagazine.com or call Bibb County Cooperative Extension at 478-751-6338 and tell us Macon Magazine sent you! 86 maconmagazine.com | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022