WINTER PRUNING OF DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS

TAKEN FROM THE:   The Old Farmer's Almanac

Pruning Pointers for Trees and Shrubs

www.almanac.com/content/pruning-pointers-trees-and-shrubs

Pruning deciduous plants in the winter promotes fast regrowth in the spring, as most plants are dormant during the winter. It's also easier to see the shape of deciduous plants in the winter, since their foliage is gone.


USE THESE FOLLOWING TIPS:

• Prune on a mild, dry day.
• When pruning, first prune out dead and diseased branches.
• Then remove the overgrown and smaller branches to increase light and air at the crown of the tree.
• In general, your goal is to keep the branches that develop or maintain the structure of the tree.
• Cut branches at the node, the point at which one branch or twig attaches to another.

EXAMPLES:

THE WINTER IS A PERFECT TIME TO PRUNE OUT THIS OVERGROWN BORDER

THIS OVERGROWN PRIVET HEDGE NEEDS TO BE PRUNED DOWN WHICH IS MUCH  EASIER TO SEE AND DO IN WINTER

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE SHRUBS AND TREES WHICH CAN BE PRUNED IN THE WINTER

Abelia

Autumn to early spring

Maintain a graceful arching form by cutting away some of the oldest stems at 

ground level. Pinch growing shoots in spring if you want bushier growth.

Azalea

Late winter or during the growing season

Before growth begins for the season, improve the form of the bush by shortening stems that jut out of place. During the growing season, pinch growing shoot tips where you want bushier growth.

Butterfly bush

Late winter

Cut all stems to the ground.

Chaste tree

Late winter or early spring

Evergreen species need little pruning beyond cutting out weak, twiggy, dead, or broken branches.

Crape myrtle

Late winter

Wherever the plant is not totally winter-hardy, cut off winter-killed wood or cut the whole plant to the ground. Little pruning is needed where this plant is cold-hardy.

Hydrangea

Mostly late winter

For smooth hydrangea, cut all stems to the ground. For bigleaf or oakleaf hydrangea, cut stems with old flowers still attached back to fat flower buds.

Smoke bush

Late winter or early spring, before growth begins

Needs little pruning unless you grow it for its purple leaves rather than for its flowers. In this case, prune severely to stimulate vigorous new growth each spring.

IMPORTANT BASICS OF PRUNING

To Thin:

Remove to improve. Thinning is about cutting out all dead, diseased, and injured parts to let in more air and light. Most important, thinning prevents confusion of a plant's structural line and enhances it health.

To Reduce:

In Nature, most plants we grow are in splendid isolation, trying to spread unnaturally fast. Our job is to prevent certain shrubs and trees from outgrowing their position in a yard. Judicious reducing helps plants develop into sound structures without over-stressing their limbs. Also, maximum flowering and bountiful fruit are only possible by pruning.

To Amputate:

It sounds harsh, but severe pruning is necessary to restore older trees and shrubs to better health. Most plants are amazingly forgiving with experimentation. Think twice, cut once, and watch carefully. Your plants will tell you in their own way how to do better next season.