Pine trees, with their unwavering posture and year-round green, aren’t just a testament to nature’s resilience; they carry stories, beliefs, and symbols that stretch across global cultures.
How to Prune Evergreens to Look Beautiful Year-Round
Use these straightforward tips to trim all your evergreen trees and shrubs.
Megan Hughes has a passion for plants that drives her to stay on top of the latest garden advancements and time-tested ways of growing great plants. She travels regularly to learn about new plants and technology and is closely connected to the innovation side of the horticulture industry. She has more than 25 years of experience in horticulture.
Updated on September 7, 2023
Reviewed by
Sylvia Duax has over 15 years of experience as a professional Horticulturist with expertise in: sustainable garden maintenance techniques; Southeastern U.S., especially in the mid-Atlantic regional gardening; native plants; wildlife gardening; small space, urban and container gardening and community engagement.
Evergreens are some of the hardest-working living elements in your landscape. They produce foliage year-round, and in the depth of winter, they bring color and texture to front entries and garden beds, when most deciduous plants are bare. Caring for evergreen trees and shrubs includes occasional pruning to keep them healthy and looking their best. In some cases, you also might need to tame rapid growth that’s crowding walkways or other plants. Pruning evergreens is a little different than trimming other trees and shrubs. This simple guide will walk you through the basics of pruning so you can enjoy decades of year-round color from these beautiful plants.
Tips for Trimming Evergreens
Besides trees or shrubs with dead or damaged areas, overgrown and fast-growing evergreens are the prime candidates for pruning. Your main goal is to preserve the natural shape of the plant as much as possible (unless you’re creating a sculpted hedge or topiary, of course). So trade your hedge trimmers for a sturdy pair of pruning shears or loppers so you can carefully cut away individual branches. Selectively remove each branch back to the main branch it may be growing from, or to the trunk itself. For shrubs, you may need to cut a branch back to ground level. Annual pruning to maintain an evergreen’s size is easier on the plant—and you—than tackling big pruning projects every few years.
Evergreen trees that are pushing the limits on their planting space are tricky to rein in while maintaining the natural shape of the plant. In many cases, evergreen trees do not produce new growth on old portions of a branch. For example, new growth on a white pine forms exclusively at the tips of the branches. Cutting a branch back by half its length will simply result in a dead branch stub. Often the only tactic for reducing the size of an evergreen tree is to cut the lower branches all the way back to the trunk.
How to Cut Back Overgrown Evergreen Shrubs
Unlike overgrown evergreen trees, shrubs usually can handle more intense pruning to reduce their size. Still, it’s best to trim back an overgrown shrub by pruning one branch at a time, rather than shearing the plant. This will make it much easier to maintain the shrub’s natural shape. And remember, many evergreens do not produce new growth on old portions of a branch, so shearing certain evergreens can leave an ugly, brown mess that takes a long time to grow out.
Types of Norfolk Island Pines
There is only one variety of Norfolk Island pine on the market: Araucaria heterophylla. This plant does not have cultivars or named varieties. A few other species from this family sometimes show up in the trade, mislabeled as the original plant. These include A. columnaris, A. araucana, and A. bidwillii. It’s unlikely you’ll see these, but if you happen to acquire one, the cultural requirements are similar.
Remove lower branches that have died—a common issue with indoor specimens. It is usually not recommended to trim the top of the tree, but if a potted tree gets too large for its space, cut off the central leader. This will cause the tree to branch out from that point, and while the plant will lose the classic evergreen look, such trimming usually does not affect the health of the tree.
Remove dead and diseased branches from trees grown outdoors, but other than this, no routine pruning is necessary.
How to Grow Norfolk Island Pine From Seed
Norfolk Island pine best propagates by seed. Seeds should be placed flat on the germination medium, such as a moist, peaty, sandy mix, without covering. Lightly mist or cover the seed to encourage germination. The suggested light level for propagation is bright, indirect light or, if outside, partial sun, with only three to four hours of direct sun. A tap root and top growth are signs the seed has germinated. Keep the seedlings medium moist—not wet and soggy.
Tip
Do not attempt to propagate a Norfolk Island pine by taking a cutting; it is not recommended since new growth does not grow back in its place like other plants. This tree propagates by seed and germinates rapidly (10 to 15 days).
Potting and Repotting Norfolk Island Pine
A potted Norfolk Island pine only needs to be repotted when it’s root-bound or the roots are beginning to come out of the drainage hole. Young Norfolk Island pines are not very fast growers, so it might be possible to repot your tree every other year instead of every year. As the plant matures, it will begin to grow faster.
Repot your Norfolk Island pine in the springtime, and if your plant has attained a larger size, make sure to use a pot of any material with plenty of heavy items in the mix, such as potting sand, to provide enough weight to keep the plant upright. It will do best in peaty, sandy potting mix that is slightly acidic. Make sure the pot is only a couple of inches larger than the one the plant is coming from, but also make certain it has plenty of drainage holes.
Modern Symbolism of Pine Trees
The pine tree holds rich symbolic meanings even in our modern age:
- Sustainability: Pine trees symbolize green practices today. As environmental concerns grow, these trees are a sign of renewable resources due to their quick growth and use in eco-friendly logging.
- Holidays: Come Christmas, and you’ll think of pine trees. They embody the holiday season’s cheer, warmth, and generous spirit, being central to Christmas traditions worldwide.
- Home: Pine’s fresh scent is now common in household items, suggesting a clean, peaceful home environment.
- Strength: Despite urbanization, pine trees stand firm. They remind us of resilience and adaptability amidst life’s rapid changes.
- Investment: Some financial circles use “pine tree” to talk about long-term growth, much as the tree takes time to grow tall.
- Wellness: Seeking calm? Pine forests are popular retreat spots. Their tranquil surroundings and distinct aroma offer a mental reset, emphasizing their therapeutic importance.
What Does the Pine Tree Symbolize Spiritually?
The pine tree holds deep spiritual meaning in many cultures. Its ability to stay green in winter symbolizes lasting life, strength, and determination. People see its tall growth as a sign of reaching for higher spiritual connections.
Many find peace and a feeling of spiritual refreshment in pine forests because of their calm environment and pleasant smell. Some also view the pinecone as a symbol of spiritual insight, relating it to the “third eye” concept. In essence, the pine tree stands for life, strength, and spiritual growth.
The Biblical Significance of the Pine Tree
The pine tree is significant in the Bible and Christianity. It’s mentioned in Isaiah 41:19, symbolizing God’s promise to provide and support.
“I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together.” Isaiah 41:19
In Psalm 104:17, it represents protection and stability, as it offers birds the opportunity to make their homes.
“There the birds make their nests;the stork makes its home in the pine trees.” Psalm 104:17
In Christianity, the pine’s prickly branches is a reminder of the thorny crown Jesus wore, and its shape represents the cross. In short, the pine tree in the Bible teaches us about faith, resilience, and the sacrifices Jesus made.
