Tom writes: I have an arboricola schefflera that needs trimming. Can it be pruned now and how?
A. A hand pruner and a few snips should be all that’s needed to keep this shinny leaf landscape favorites in bounds. Often called the dwarf schefflera, the variegated forms seem most popular but the green leaf selections are also available. These plants have few branches and require little pruning. Occasionally removing the growing tips and out of bound shoots can help create a more compact planting. Arboricola schefflera can grow to 10 feet tall but most locally seem to be lower growing varieties. Plantings can grow in the sun but seem to prefer the shady locations. Gardeners with lots of these shrubs, where selective trimming with hand pruners is out of the question, can trim their plantings with shears. Q.
