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Trees and shrubs require maintenance from time to time. But when is the best time to prune plants, and what plants should you prune in winter? Generally, late winter to early spring is the best time to prune plants. This is when most trees and shrubs have lost their leaves and are dormant. It’s much easier to see a plant’s form while dormant to change the shape and remove dead limbs.
Pruning during this time also gives plants time to recover before blooming starts later in the year. But while most deciduous plants are safe to prune in the winter, there are a few things to consider about the following plants:
These plants are safe to prune in late winter or early spring while they are dormant and new growth has not started.
When pruning flowering shrubs, you must determine whether the plant buds are on “new” or “old” wood. New wood means the plant will bloom on new growth and blossom later in summer. Prune new wood-blooming plants in late winter or early spring before new growth occurs.
Old wood is a plant that blooms on the previous year’s growth and blooms in spring. It’s best to prune old wood-blooming plants after blossoming ends in late spring or early summer. This will allow plants to bloom fully, and prevents buds formed during winter from being cut.