Pruning Season

When Should I Prune Trees and Shrubs?

While you can generally prune dead, diseased, or damaged branches year-round, it’s important to prune at timely intervals to create healthy blooms in Trees and Shrubs.   Pruning cuts should be made with a sharp pruning tool that’s appropriate for the job and should be limited to no more than roughly 25% of the tree canopy. 

Proper pruning paired with Virginia Green’s Premium Tree and Shrub Program will help to provide you with healthy plants in your yard and keep them looking good year round. 

Early Spring Bloomers – Prune May – July  

These types of trees and shrubs put out flowers called “old wood.”  They were created in the prior growing season and through dormancy, they eventually burst into a bloom the following spring when temperatures start to warm up.   An exception to this would be rejuvenating a plant, in which case, you will want to minimize the effects on the shrub’s health and cut it down to the ground in the late winter.  You may miss a growing season, but it will rebound after a year. 

Azalea 

Camellia 

Cherry (flowering) 

Forsythia 

Hydrangea (early blooming varieties) 

Lilac 

Magnolia 

Pyracantha 

Quince 

Rhododendron 

Serviceberry 

Spirea (early blooming varieties) 

Viburnum 

Weigela 

Witchhazel 

Late Spring Bloomers – Prune Nov – Feb 

You can have more flexibility in pruning this group of trees and shrubs.  These later blooming plants can be pruned in late winter and early Spring. After they’ve finished flowering, they can benefit from a quick pruning job as well. 

Abelia 

Beautyberry 

Butterfly bush (this should be pruned back hard – close to the ground is good) 

Cotoneaster 

Gardenia 

Hibiscus, Rose-of-Sharon 

Most hydrangeas, especially paniculate (although most hydrangeas do not need much pruning) 

Wisteria (you’ll also need to prune it in the summer) 

When do you prune Evergreens? Nov – Feb 

The best time to prune your non-coniferous evergreens (such as boxwoods and hollies) are in the dormant season. 

Boxwood 

Holly (don’t prune hollies during the growing season) 

Live Oak 

Southern Magnolia 

What should be pruned in the Summer? 

The ideal time for pruning is typically late Winter to Early Spring for all Trees and Shrubs.  Nevertheless, some Trees and Shrubs will benefit from Summer pruning.  Cutting out suckers and waterspouts, especially on fruit trees, is beneficial.  Also, reducing the canopy of trees to increase air flow and circulation will cut down on fungus and disease formation.   This is the time of the year to also shape trees and improve their appearance if applicable. 

To learn more about what and when to prune in your lawn contact contact Virginia Green at 804-285-6200.