Seasonal Pruning Charts

The information below will help you decide when and how to prune your plantlife throughout each season.

Late Winter-Early Spring:

• This is the best season to prune most plants because it is prior to the beginning of growth.
• Prune at ground level of a few of the oldest canes from all mature shrubs, except the early flowering types.
• Trim deciduous hedges wider at the base narrower at the top.
• From dormant fruit trees – remove weak, broken and crowded branches.
• Head back branches that have flower buds.
• In spring, prune evergreens of winter damaged wood and discolored foliage.
• Avoid pruning frozen wood.

PLANT:	INSTRUCTIONS:
APPLE:	Prune moderately. Trim for low head. Keep main branches well spaced around tree.
AZALEA:	To renew old plants, fertilize well for one year. Then in spring, remove any damaged or overgrown canes. Could be poisonous.
CHERRY:	Prune moderately, lightly prune the most vigorous shoots.
GRAPE:	Heavily prune old wood back to the main vine. Cut previous year’s growth back to four or five buds.
PEACH:	Prune for low, ball-shaped top at a clean trunk. Vigorously prune one half of previous year’s growth. Keep center of tree open for good air circulation. Very poisonous.
PLUM:	Prune moderately and a little each year at the crown to keep shoots coming on.
BARBERRY:	Prune lightly after flowering to restore shape.
ELDERBERRY:	After fruiting, remove some of the oldest shoots at the ground, or cut back an old plant hard to force a new crop of canes.
HYDRANGIA:	Prune Hills-of-Snow variety back to the ground. For other varieties, remove weak and dead growth and cut flowering stems back to two buds.
ROSES:	(Hybrid, Tea and Perpetual) After frosts, cut away dead and weak growth and shorten remaining canes to four or five buds.
SNOWBERRY:	Cut old twiggy canes. Cut back last season’s growth of remaining parts to three buds.

Late Spring-Early Summer:

• This is the season of greatest growth.
• Remove some of the oldest canes of mature shrubs after flowering. Pinch out tips to encourage branching.
• Freely trim narrow-leaf evergreens of new growth.
• Remove dead flowers from broad-leaf evergreens to prevent formation of speed pods.
• Pinch any buds that may be starting unwanted growth.

PLANT:	INSTRUCTIONS:
AZALEA:	Prune for shape after all blooming has stopped. Could be poisonous.
DEUTZIA:	Prune lightly to remove a few older branches and dead twigs after blooming has stopped.
DOGWOOD:	(Flowering) After flowering, remove dead wood only. (Other) Prune dead wood only to preserve natural beauty.
FORSYTHIA:	After flowering, remove a few older branches. For old, neglected plants, cut back entire plant to about one foot, leave three to five canes. Could be poisonous.
HONEYSUCKLE:	Cut some of the oldest wood to the ground every four to five years. Pinch shoots to encourage branching. Could be poisonous.
MOUNTAIN LAUREL:	Prune lightly. Pinch off clusters of spent blossoms. Remove a few old branches at the ground to induce new growth from roots. Could be poisonous.
PRIVET:	In April, cut back hard to rejuvenate old plants. Could be poisonous.
RHODODENDRON:	Same as Mountain Laurel.
ROSES:	(Climbing) After flowering, prune one half of the old growth at the ground. Keep new shoots for next year’s flowers.
PINE/SPRUCE:	Cut back candles on side of branches of young trees to one half or less after needles have expanded but before hardening

Summer:

• Summer pruning entails removal of plant parts that are actively at work.
• Shear hedges regularly for appearance.
• Prune some lower branches from shade trees to develop clean trunks.
• Always be ready to pinch tips of leafy shoots, but not until after flowering.
• Limit pruning done late in the summer as new growth may be damaged by the coming low temperatures.

PLANT:	INSTRUCTIONS:
APPLE:	Prune to encourage good structure growth and suppoprt.
BLACKBERRY:	Cut back new shoots to approximately three and one half feet.
CRABAPPLE:	Cut away weak internal shoots and crowded branches to a crotch. Thin out weeping and spreading forms to accentuate their growth patterns.
HOLLY:	Prune at any time of the year to restore shape.
RASPBERRY:	Head back new canes to approximately 22 inches. Remove spent canes and excess shoots.
ROSES:	Prune lightly to shorten shoots only. Remove faded flowers (except for species roses).
PRIVET:	Starting in June, trim to shape three times at six week intervals.
YEW:	Trim to maintain shape. Could be poisonous.
WILD CHERRY:	Prune very lightly. Trim lower branches and burn the extremely poisonous wilted foliage.

Fall-Winter:

• Prune shade trees all winter for general shaping and to repair damage.
• Prune shrubs once more in September, especially to remove basal suckers.
• Avoid pruning evergreens.
• When removing heavy limbs, use proper safety proceedures.

PLANT:	INSTRUCTIONS:
HONEYSUCKLE:	Remove gnarled and diseased old wood. Could be poisonous.
MOCK ORANGE:	Remove a few of the oldest canes every three to four years.
PEONY:	(Herbaceous) Cut to the ground as leaves mature and look dry.
ROSES:	(Tea and Hybrid) Lightly prune to prevent wind whipping and storm damage.
FIR:	Use sharp tools to remove diseased or injured branches during very cold weather only.

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