While some might think it is easier to top a tree rather than prune it, the long-term benefits of pruning far outweigh the short-term ease of topping.  Topping (also known as hatracking, heading-back or stubbing) might give a tree the nice, uniform shape that people are looking for immediately, but it is actually harming the tree in the long-run.  The new growth and limbs will grow quickly the next year but will be weak and more prone to break off and cause damage during a storm.  The tree will also be more likely to die sooner than a properly pruned tree.  Some people are intimidated by the idea of pruning since they are worried about harming a living thing, but pruning is actually good for the plant if done properly.

Some tools that will help you in the pruning process are:

• Hand pruners
• Loppers
• Pruning Saws
• Pole Pruners
• Hedge Trimmers

Trees and shrubs that flower in summer or fall should be pruned during the dormant season while ones that flower in the spring should be pruned immediately after flowering.  It is important to remember that dead branches on a tree can be removed at any time of the year.

There are several great ground covers that are available to help you landscape that always ‘too hard to landscape’ space in your yard!

Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
If you love the smell of Thyme, this is a great, easy-to-grow ground cover for you!  This will grow pink or white flowers in the spring or summer and grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.  It will grow up to 10 inches tall.

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
This is a dense, slender, arching, glossy grass with green leaves that go from golden orange in the fall to copper-brown in the winter.  The late summer to early fall flowers are silver panicles on 3 ft. tall stems.  This grows best in full sun to light shade and handles drought and heat well.

Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
This low-growing ground cover grows up to 8-10 inches tall.  It requires good drainage and likes the conditions hot and dry.  Great to go in your rock garden.  Various types, all with yellow flowers and the foliage is bluish-grey.

Cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)
This groundcover will get 9-12 inches tall, requires good drainage and is good with rock gardens and to use as edging.  Has blue-grey foliage and with many cultivars, flowering in pink and white.

Bishop’s weed or Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
This low-maintenance groundcover grows up to 10 inches is good for the woodland shade garden.  It is good for mass planting and it flowers in white.

Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Good groundcover for a woodland shade garden.  Grows about 4-8 inches and after 3 years it will spread well by rhizome.  It flowers in brownish-red.

Epimedium or Barrenwort (Epimedium)
This groundcover is good for woodland shade gardens.  There are various sizes, colors and cultivars.  Non-aggressive.

Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
This non-aggressive groundcover is good for the dry shade.  Many varieties flowering in yellow and can have variegated foliage.

Spotted Nettle or Dead Nettles (Lamium maculatum)
Another groundcover for the shade, this flowers in white, pink or purple.  It has many varieties of foliage may be variegated.

Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Very low-growing groundcover is stepable and can be walked on by light foot traffic.  This is for part-sun, part-shade and prefers a moist soil.  It flowers in lavender or white, grows up to 3 inches tall and spreads well.

Ground Clematis (Clematis recta)
This groundcover does well in the St. Louis area and flowers in white.  Grows about 2-3 feet tall.

Solitary Clematis (Clematis integrifolia)
Another good groundcover clematis is very hearty and flowers in blue or white.

Tube Clematis (Clematis heracleifolia)
This groundcover can grow in the shade and will grow anywhere from 2-4 feet tall.  It flowers in various shades of blue, depending on the variety.

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
This is a rapidly-spreading groundcover that will take moist or dry soil for the sun.  It flowers in yellow.