
When to prune
Plants that bloom on new wood are pruned in late winter; those that bloom on old wood are pruned right after flowering. Spring bloomers (old wood) are pruned right after flowering, because next year's buds form in summer. Summer bloomers (new wood) are pruned in late winter or early spring.
Photo: shrinkin'violet from Bristol, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Blooms on 1-year-old canes
Blooms on 1-year-old wood
Blooms on 2-year canes (floricanes); fall raspberries on 1-year canes
Blooms on foliage
BoxwoodLate winter to spring; light shaping into early summer
Hedges: privet, ligustrum, photinia, euonymusLate winter, then light shearing through early summer
Junipers, arborvitae, yews (needled evergreens)Early spring before new growth, light trim in early summer- NandinaLate winter, while dormant (before buds break)
- Pines and sprucesLate spring: pinch pine 'candles' as they elongate
Blooms on foliage (berries on old wood)
Blooms on group 1 old wood; group 2 both; group 3 new wood
Blooms on n/a
- Elm (Dutch elm disease timing)Late winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Maples, birches, walnut ('bleeders')Early summer after leaves are full (or late winter, accepting sap flow- Oak (oak wilt timing)Midwinter dormant season (coldest months)
Ornamental grassesLate winter before new growth- PalmsRemove only fully brown fronds, any season; avoid in cold months
- Shade trees, general (structural)Late winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Blooms on new wood
Butterfly bush (Buddleja)Early spring as new growth starts
Crape myrtleLate winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Glossy abeliaLate winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Hydrangea, panicle (H. paniculata: Limelight, Quick Fire)Late winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Hydrangea, smooth (H. arborescens: Annabelle, Incrediball)Late winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Lantana, perennial salvias and other woody Southern perennialsRight after the last frost, as new growth starts- Roses, hybrid tea and grandifloraLate winter/early spring as buds swell
Roses, shrub and landscape (Knock Out®, Drift®)Late winter/early spring as buds swell
Spirea, summer-blooming (Japanese, bumald)Late winter, while dormant (before buds break)
Blooms on old and new wood
Blooms on old wood
AzaleaWithin about 4 weeks after flowers fade- BlueberryLate winter while dormant
CamelliaWithin about 4 weeks after flowers fade
Dogwood and redbudWithin about 4 weeks after flowers fade
ForsythiaWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade
GardeniaWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade- Hydrangea, climbing (H. anomala petiolaris)Within about 4 weeks after flowers fade
Hydrangea, oakleaf (H. quercifolia)Within about 4 weeks after flowers fade
LilacWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade
LoropetalumWithin about 4 weeks after flowers fade
MagnoliaWithin about 4 weeks after flowers fade- RhododendronWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade
- Spirea, spring-blooming (bridal wreath, Vanhoutte)Within about 3 weeks after flowers fade
ViburnumWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade
WeigelaWithin about 3 weeks after flowers fade
Blooms on old wood (once-bloomers)
Blooms on old wood (rebloomers also bloom on new wood)
Blooms on old wood (spurs)
- Apple and pearLate winter, after the coldest weather
- WisteriaSummer (shorten whips) and late winter (spur back)
Blooms on spurs/old wood
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Holly (evergreen)Late winter while dormant
Clematis (by group)Group 1: after spring bloom. Group 2: light late-winter trim. Group 3:
Hydrangea, bigleaf/mophead and lacecap (H. macrophylla)Within about 4 weeks after flowers fade