Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Environmental Horticulture
Volume
15
Issue
3
Publisher
Horticultural Research Institute
Publication Date
9-1-1997
First Page
123
Last Page
125
Abstract
We investigated growth of native Intermountain West shrub species sheared yearly. Five shrub species with potential for use in naturalized landscapes and roadslide reclamation, silver sage (Artemesia cana), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), red-stem dogwood Cornus sericea), chokecherry Prunus virginiana), and curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), were planted as seedlings in summer 1989. From 1991-1993, half of the plants were sheard to within 1.15 m (0.5 ft) of the ground every spring prior to or at budbreak. Crown height and crown cross-sectional area were measured every year prior to pruning. significant shearing effects were detected in some shrubs the first year after shearing, with crown area affected more than height. Height of three species with a multistemmed habit, C. nauseous, A. cana, and C. sericea, was unaffected by shearing both years. crown area of all species except C. sericea was reduced by shearing. All speecies were able to regorw to at least 50% of the corwn area and 70% of the height of the unsheared plants, suggesting that they would be able to tolerate shearing as a management tool with little to no loss of vigor
Recommended Citation
Rupp, L., and R. *Kjelgren. 1997. Effect of annual shearing on growth of five high desert shrubs. J. Environ. Hort. 15:123-125.