Yard work: pruning a smoke bush

Self-tutoring about yard chores: the tutor mentions his recent experience pruning a smoke bush.

There is a smoke bush on the property: it’s an ornamental plant that I’d describe as a small tree. It has a well-defined trunk, about three or four inches in diameter near the base. Last night, before pruning, the smoke bush probably reached about nine feet tall. It’s deciduous, so without leaves right now, since it’s winter. In spring, it grows purple leaves. As the season progresses, it develops a fluffy outer layer of fine filaments (associated with its blooms) that perhaps is thought to look like smoke.

The smoke bush grows fairly quickly, both in expanse and also by sprouting many new branches. I don’t know how big it would get, but my wife has a limit in mind of how much territory each ornamental should occupy. Hence, yesterday, I was pruning the smoke bush.

I had to admit, the pruning was overdue: I missed it last year. Bursting with vigor, the smoke bush was covered in small branches that needed to be clipped off. Moreover, its expanse had become greater than I’d realized.

As with most pruning situations, it took some dressing of the outer portions to gain access to the inner ones. After a while I developed a vision of how the smoke bush would finally appear.

As the afternoon progressed, the smoke bush wasn’t the only ornamental I would prune. Hopefully I’ll mention the other ones in future posts:)

Source:

themarthablog.com

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