When should you cut back trees and shrubs?

The best time to rejuvenate large, overgrown shrubs is late winter or early spring (March or early April). Heavy pruning in late winter or early spring will reduce or eliminate the flower display for 2 or 3 years. However, rejuvenation pruning will restore the health of the shrubs.

What months should you not trim trees?

To avoid certain diseases, pruning in the late winter is especially great. Avoid Oak Wilt disease by pruning oaks between November and March. You should never prune your oaks between April and October. Prune apple trees between February and late-April.

When should you cut back trees?

There is never a bad time to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches. But most trees benefit from pruning in mid to late winter. Pruning during dormancy encourages new growth as soon as the weather begins to warm. The lack of leaves after autumn allows you to easily identify branches and limbs requiring removal.

What month is considered late winter?

Late winter is 4 to 6 weeks before spring thaw begins. This could be any time in January to May, depending on your climate. Use your average last frost date and count back.

Is it OK to trim trees in summer?

Answer: In general, pruning a tree when it is dormant is recommended if there are large branches to remove; that is, pruning between the time the leaves fall from the tree in the fall and the time the buds swell in the spring. However, pruning for safety reasons or minor pruning may also be done in the summer.

How to Prune (Not Kill) Trees and Shrubs

What happens if you prune a tree at the wrong time?

Most importantly, if you make pruning cuts at the wrong time–even good cuts that avoid the most common mistakes described here–you risk leaving your plants and trees susceptible to disease pathogens that are airborne or transmitted through insects.

What should you not cut back in the winter?

Cut off any shoots at the base and remove dead, diseased or crossing branches. Do not prune stone fruits, such as cherries or plums, in winter as they risk being infected by a fungal disease called silver leaf. Prune them in early or midsummer instead.

Can you prune trees in January?

JANUARY is the height of the dormant season, and a good time to prune climbers, or shrubs and trees that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds.

What trees should not be pruned in winter?

Some trees flower in spring, like dogwood, magnolia, redbud, cherry, and pear. As with spring-flowering shrubs, these trees should not be pruned in winter since you will remove the buds that would otherwise light up your backyard in spring. Instead, prune these trees immediately after they bloom.

What can I prune in February?

Many summer-flowering deciduous shrubs can be pruned between February and March; usually those that flower on the current year's growth. Shrubs that need regular pruning include Buddleja davidii, Ceratostigma, Hydrangea paniculata, Lavatera, Leycesteria, Perovskia, hardy fuchsias, and deciduous Ceanothus.

What plants should be cut back in winter?

Is it bad to trim bushes in winter?

Pruning in winter won't harm the plant, but it will reduce flowering in spring. If a shrub is severely overgrown, you may need to prune it in winter anyway. It won't bloom that year (or not as much), but it will return to full form the following spring.

Should you trim trees in winter?

The reality is that winter is a good time for pruning and tree removal services. In fact, some major pruning work should only be done during the winter, such as pruning fruit trees to maximize fruit production. During winter, trees and shrubs enter a state called dormancy.

Should you trim lower branches on trees?

Still, the majority of the time, you do NOT want to cut away your lower branches! This is because they're there for an important reason: they serve as a tree's structural reinforcement. This is particularly crucial during storm season.

Can I prune trees in November?

The cold can harm this tender new growth, and the tree may need more pruning in spring to remove the damage. If you want to prune in fall, wait until trees drop their leaves and are dormant—usually October or November.

Which kind of pruning cut is not recommended for shrubs?

For most landscapes, a plant's natural form is best. Avoid shearing shrubs into tight geometrical forms unless they need to be confined or trained for a specific purpose. When plants are properly pruned, it's hard to tell that they've been pruned.

How do you trim trees and shrubs?

Summer is the best time to remove dead branches when they stand out. Prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs right after they finish flowering in spring. Trees and shrubs that bloom during summer and into autumn are best pruned in later winter or early spring as soon as their annual growth begins.

How far can you cut back a tree?

While some plants need a heftier prune than others, in general, the golden rule is to trim no more than 15 to 20 percent of a tree's canopy at one time. Keep that in mind for next time. Let's focus on the now. If your plant was already pruned too much, use this step-by-step guide to fix the damage.

What plants should you cut back in the fall?

What needs pruning in January?

In the flower garden

Prune rose bushes this month while they are still dormant. Cut branches back to just above a bud, making sure to remove any crossing or dead branches. January is the month to start pruning rhododendrons.

Is March too late to prune shrubs?

Many summer or late-summer flowering deciduous shrubs can be pruned between January and March. Examples include Buddleja davidii, Caryopteris clandonensis, Ceratostigma, Hydrangea paniculata, Leycesteria, Lavatera, Perovskia, hardy fuchsia, and deciduous Ceanothus species.

Is March too early to prune?

Don't prune your forsythia, lilac or mock orange yet. Anything you cut off now will result in that much less of a flower show this spring. Except for these and many other spring-flowering shrubs, however, March is a fine time for pruning many trees and shrubs.

Is it too late to cut back shrubs?

The best time to prune is after flowering. If the plant needs to be renovated, or severely reduced, this can be done late winter and early spring just before growth begins. Remove old flowers (deadhead) and cut back to healthy outward facing buds. Remove damaged, diseased, old wood and straggly growth.

Can I prune a tree in April?

Trees such as Prunus sp, which are prone to silver leaf disease are best pruned from April to July when the disease spores are not on the wind, and the tree sap is rising rather than falling (which pushes out infection rather than drawing it in). Some trees can bleed sap if pruned in late winter and early spring.

Should you trim trees in the spring?

You can safely remove some dead, damaged, overgrown, or dying branches in early spring – late March through early April – as long as you don't remove too many tree branches. You don't want to overly stress your trees during this prime growing season, which would also put them at risk of disease or pest infestations.