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Fundamentals of pruning Barberry Bushes/shrub with DIY method(USA)

Barberry bushes are common shrubs for lawns and gardens that can tolerate drought and grow throughout the winter(dormancy in winter). In the following spring, it starts regrowing its leaves and foliage which actually are poisonous for human consumption. 

The Barberry bushes have sharp thorns that can give you wounds if you become careless while treating them.

Like other activities irrigation, fertilization, weeding, and maintenance, pruning is also important to keep plant stress free and focus on the purpose. 

Here, I'll guide you to prune your Barberry bushes by DIY method with the easiest steps. 

Barberry bushes Pruning

Barberry bushes are good in lawns as Deer don't like them, their thorns help to make a barrier and they can live longer with the least maintenance. Barberry bushes can grow up to 8 feet tall but keeping them low is good for handling and ease. 

Barberry shrubs pruning in USA

Let's see the basics of pruning Barberry bushes and then I'll share the DIY method of pruning it. 

Barberry pruning season

During winter, Barberry shrubs go into dormancy period as they mostly do. You can't prune them either in fall or winter. 

From the following spring, you'll find leave less, foliage less, and only thorne-fledged Barberry branches for some time till they start recovering. During this period, you've time to shape it in a certain manner and prune it for healthy growth further. 

So you can start pruning Barberry bushes or shrubs from early spring to mid-spring. 

Before starting Barberry bush pruning

I want you to know about the challenges of pruning Barberry shrubs before you get started it.

Let's see all the challenges- 

  • If you are a beginner, unfortunately, it may happen that sharp thorns will pinch you hard and give you wounds. This is the most common problem with Barberry bushes pruning. So wearing safety gloves, and glasses, helps you to reduce the chances of thorne hurting. 
  • Trimming the wrong sections may affect your shrub to develop new leaves and foliage. 
  • Pruning too short of shrub may take longer to grow new leaves and foliage. 
  • If you are using an automatic machine for pruning, then maybe you're making a mistake because pruning is not light work like trimming. It needs your attention on distinct branches and twigs. 

Requirements to prune Barberry

Tools required 

  • Long handle scissors
  • Small scissor

Safety kit

  • Thick hand gloves
  • Safety glasses
  • Boots

Guide to prune barberry DIY

Pruning barberry shrubs with DIY method is slightly difficult for beginners but if they follow the right steps, they can do it easily. 

The purpose of pruning barberry bushes is to target the older, dried, and too slow-developing branches which are wasting the plant's energy. So let's start with all the safety measures and prune your Barberry shrub- 

Step 1- Examine Barberry shrub conditions

Your first task will be to examine the Barberry shrub conditions in early spring. Examine all the branches from top to bottom closely. 

You need to cut the older branches just above the nodes and encourage the new ones. 

Step 2- Wear safety gloves and ready tools

Wear your safety kit including gloves, glasses, and boots before starting pruning. Check the edges of long-handle scissors before pruning and imagine a picture of your shrub as you want to see it. 

Step 3- Start with the trimming of excessive branches

At first, you need to remove the edges of excessive thorns and branches from the shrub that gives it add disbalance and look. Just trim the edges as you do with hedges. 

Step 4- Prune the older twigs

Now, target the older twigs that are thick and have hard sharp thorns. Remember, you can cut the older twigs and stem at a certain height of 2 feet and if you already have a small size shrub then you can keep it 1 foot minimum. 

Don't cut at the new nodes or newly developing twigs on the older branches. 

Step 5- Prune the older undeveloped twigs

Now, target the undeveloped twigs that are there for a long time but are growing too slowly. These branches waste the shrub energy in the wrong sections, so you need to remove these to shift the shrub focus to new branches. 

Step 6- Prune dead branches

Pruning the dead branches which lost their complete moisture and get dead with time. You need to remove all of them and all those which are getting dry. If you release your plants' stress and an unwanted load of supply shifting. 

Step 7- Carefully clean the area

After pruning your Barberry shrubs, you may have left a huge waste of wood fledged with sharp thorns. You don't need to use them anywhere but you can use them in your lawn or garden fencing. 

Don't forget to clean carefully these sharp throne branches and make your shrub light and stress-free to grow further.

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