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When to Prune Trees, Shrubs and Flowers

September 21, 2021 by Jeanne

When to prune trees, shrubs, and other plants is one of the biggest questions gardeners ask. They’re afraid to prune plants at the wrong time of year. Will it hurt them? What if I accidentally cut off all of the flowers? Below you will find guidelines on when to prune many common backyard trees and shrubs, plus a handout you can download and print that lists when to prune various types of plants.

When to Prune Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Spring-flowering trees and shrubs bloom on last year’s growth. This means that the flowers you see in March, April, or May developed the previous year.

That’s why it’s very important to prune spring blooming plants at the right time of year. If you prune them at the wrong time of year, you will accidentally cut off the flowers. This won’t hurt your plant in the long run. It will recover. But for a year or two, you may have no or very few flowers.

Pruning Rule #1

Prune Spring-Flowering Plants Immediately AFTER They Finish Blooming

Prune the following plants in the spring soon after they finish blooming.

Common NameBotanical Name
Chinese RedbudCercis chinensis
Japanese quinceChaenomeles Japonica
Fringe treeChionathus virginicus
Spring-flowering deutziasDeutzia species
PearlbushExochorda racemose
ForsythiaForsythia species
KerriaKerria japonica
HoneysuckleLonicera species
Star magnoliaMagnolia stellate
Mockorange speciesPhiladelphus species
Pieris speciesPieris species
Azaleas and rhododendronsRhododendron species
Rambling rose speciesRosa species
Early white spirea speciesSpiraea species
Lilac speciesTamarix parviflora
Small-flowered tamarixTamarix species
Viburnum speciesViburnum species
Old-fashioned weigelaWeigela florida

Pruning Rule #2

Rule #2: Prune plants that bloom during the summer or fall in late winter, before the leaves appear.

Common NameBotanical Name
Glossy abeliaAbelia x grandiflora
Butterfly BushBuddleia davidii or globose
Japanese beauty bushCallicarpa japonica
SummersweetClethra alnifolia
Shrub altheaHibiscus syriacus
Hills of SnowHydrangea arborescens
Peegee HydrangeaHydrangea paniculate
Saint John’s WortHypericum species
Crape myrtleLagerstroemia indica
Bush roseRosa species
Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea bumbalda
Mikado SpireaSpiraea japonica
SnowberrySymphoricarpos species
KashgarTamarix hispida
OdessaTamarix odessana
Chase treeVitex agnus-castus

    The trick to pruning plants is to ensure you have the right equipment and that you’re pruning at the right time. Pruning at the wrong time probably won’t hurt the plant, but you can prune away buds – which will mean no flowers for a year.

    Filed Under: How to Garden, Tools & Equipment, Trees and Shrubs

    Previous Post: « Must-Have Pruning Tools for Homeowners
    Next Post: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Vegetables from Seeds »

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