Tree and Shrub Pruning Guide

We get a lot of pruning questions at Fairview. Pruning is both an art and a science. Hopefully this guide will help answer some questions regarding the timing of pruning. We will leave the artistic side of pruning to another article. The best advice that I can give someone about pruning is to learn a little about what you are doing and be bold! Do not let the act of removing material from live plants scare you. Pruning, when done properly and at the correct time of year, can be beneficial to your garden.

A good rule of thumb for pruning is this: If your tree or shrub blooms in the spring season, prune it after it has flowered. If your tree or shrub blooms in the summer or fall months, prune it in late February. There are exceptions to this rule, and I will try to cover them in this guide. The reason for pruning two separate ways is that spring flowering plants typically set their flower buds during the late summer or early fall months. Summer flowering plants generally set buds on new growth which forms in spring. Other plants that are grown more for purposes other than flowering should be pruned during the late winter season. This includes plants like holly, nandina, privet and other common shrubs in the landscape.

Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
This is a list of trees and shrubs that flower in the spring and should be pruned in the period after they finish flowering, but before the end of June.

- Azalea
- Rhododendron
- Camellia
- Forsythia
- Wisteria
- Indian Hawthorne
- Gardenia
- Hydrangea (mop-head type)
- Cherry
- Plum
- Redbud
- Dogwood

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