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Pruning Schedule for Shrubs: In the Nick of Time: Home

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' benefits from hard cutting back annually; photo by Ivo Vermeulen
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' benefits from hard cutting back annually; photo by Ivo Vermeulen


Many shrubs need to be pruned on a yearly basis to maintain health. But getting to know your plants is a slow process, often involving a few initial casualties. As a general rule of thumb, plants that flower early in spring or flower on old wood (previous season's growth) should be pruned immediately after they flower. Plants that flower on new wood (current season's growth) can be pruned in late winter or early spring. Here is an overview of what to prune and when. These are guidelines for Zone 6 and higher.

There are a number of plants that respond well when pruned back hard every year in winter to early spring. They tend to produce vigorous new growth and more flowers. Some classic examples are repeat-flowering roses (e.g. hybrid teas and modern shrub roses), butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), and blue mist shrub (Caryopteris). The first season, leave the shrub alone. The following year, when buds swell around mid-April, cut the stems back, leaving two or three buds per stem. Every subsequent year, follow the same procedure. Clean out the deadwood as well. This pruning technique will create a multi-stemmed candelabrum of stumps sprouting a multitude of vigorous new shoots that grow into a shapely and floriferous shrub each year.

Some shrubs are planted for a specific effect: pussy willows (Salix) for the catkins and red-twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea) for the ornamental stems. Cutting the majority of the stems back hard (down to 6 inches for the pussy willow and to the ground for the dogwoods) ensures that you will have vigorous new growth with bright color and plenty of catkins. Beautyberry (Callicarpa) also benefits when its oldest stems are cut to 6 inches in late winter so that the plant can send up new growth covered with glorious purple berries.

Callicarpa japonica benefits when the oldest stems are cut back in late winter
Callicarpa japonica benefits when the oldest stems are cut back in late winter

Some shrubs flower on old wood and produce beautiful ornamental berries. In these cases, you can either prune immediately following flowering or prune lightly in early spring. Either way, you will be reducing the amount of berries. Some examples are scarlet firethorns (Pyracantha) and many viburnums (Viburnum).

It's important to get to know your shrubs. Daphne (Daphne) resents being pruned. It is short-lived in the NYC area, performing well for 3 to 5 years and then quickly fading. Witch-hazels (Hamamelis) can be cut back hard but prefer to be handled gently; these long-lived shrubs have a beautiful vase shape and are generally best left alone. English boxwood can be sheared to your heart's delight once the weather warms, but it's important to stop late in the season so the foliage can harden off before the cold.

Here is a list of the best times to prune your trees and shrubs. Before you prune, make sure you have comfortable, sharp, clean, pruning tools to work with.

Prune after flowering (early blooming or flowers on year-old wood):

Botanical Name

Common Name

Berberis
barberry
Calycanthus
Carolina allspice
Chaenomeles
flowering quince
Chimonathus
wintersweet
Deutzia
deutzia
Forsythia
forsythia
Fothergilla
witch alder
Hydrangea macrophylla
big leaf hydrangea (see note below in Prune Early)
Hydrangea quercifolia
oak leaf hydrangea
Itea virginica
Virginia sweetspire (if desired, hard prune in late winter, when you can see what you're doing)
Kolkwitzia
beautybush
Philadelphus
mock orange
Rhododendron
rhododendrons and azaleas
Salix
pussy willows
Spirea x arguta 'Bridal Wreath', S. thunbergii & S. veitchii
early blooming spirea
Syringa
lilacs
Viburnum
viburnum
Weigela
weigela

 

Prune early (before flowering):

Botanical Name

Common Name

Abelia
glossy abelia
Callicarpa
beautyberry
Clethra
summersweet
Cornus sericea
red twig dogwood
Cotinus
smoke tree
Hibiscus
hibiscus, rose of Sharon
Hydrangea aborescens
smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
big leaf hydrangea (note: this plant flowers on year old wood and can be pruned after flowering. The tips of the branches tend to die back in our climate, and a light pruning to a pair of healthy buds works best in early spring. Do not get carried away or you will remove too many flower buds.)
Hydrangea paniculata
PeeGee hydrangea
Ilex
holly
Lespedenza
bush clover
Spirea japonica
summer blooming spirea
Symphoricarpos
snowberry
Vitex
chaste tree

 

 

Plants that rarely need pruning:

Botanical Name

Common Name

Amelancher
serviceberry
Calycanthus*
Carolina allspice
Crataegus
hawthorn
Daphne
daphne
Fothergilla*
witch alder
Halesia
silver bell tree
Hamamelis
witch hazel
Kalmia latifolia
mountain laurel
Kolkwitzia*
beauty bush
Lindera
spicebush
Mahonia
Oregon grape
Oxydendrum
sourwood tree
Pieris
pieris, andromeda
Rhododendron*
rhododendron
Skimmia
skimmia

* If you decide to prune these plants, adhere to the recommended pruning schedule in the two top tables.

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Noteworthy Books on Pruning

  • Book CoverAn Illustrated Guide to Pruning by Edward F. Gilman
    Call Number: SB435.76 .G54 2012
    ISBN: 9781111307301
    Publication Date: 2011-08-08
  • Book CoverCass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning by Cass Turnbull
    Call Number: SB125 .T87 2012
    ISBN: 9781570617515
    Publication Date: 2012-11-20
  • Book CoverHow to Buy the Right Plants, Tools, and Garden Supplies by Jim Fox
    Call Number: SB450.97 .F693 2013
    ISBN: 9781604692143
    Publication Date: 2013-02-26
  • Book CoverPruning Made Easy by Lewis Hill
    Call Number: SB125 .H468 1997
    ISBN: 1580170072
    Publication Date: 1998-01-02
  • Book CoverPruning Trees, Shrubs and Vines by Karan D. Cutler
    Call Number: SB125 .C87 2003
    ISBN: 1889538590
    Publication Date: 2003-09-01
  • Book CoverThe Pruning Book by Lee Reich
    Call Number: SB125 .R38 1997
    ISBN: 1561581607
    Publication Date: 1997-01-01
  • Book CoverThe Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers by George E. Brown; Tony Kirkham; George Ernest Brown
    Call Number: SB125 .B73 2004
    ISBN: 0881926132
    Publication Date: 2004-02-15
  • Book CoverThe Timber Press Encyclopedia of Flowering Shrubs by Jim Gardiner
    Call Number: SB435 .G378 2011
    ISBN: 0881928232
    Publication Date: 2012-03-06

Useful Websites

  • Virginia Cooperative Extension logo
    A Guide to Successful Pruning, Shrub Pruning Calendar
  • Purdue Extension
    Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
  • Colorado State University Extension
    Pruning Flowering Shrubs
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension: Oneida County
    Pruning Shrubs
  • Last Updated: Mar 9, 2022 9:04 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.nybg.org/pruningshrubs
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Subjects: Pruning, Trees & Shrubs