When to Prune

All trees and shrubs have unique characteristics that determine how and when they should be pruned...

  • Topic: Pruning
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger and Mary Ann Walz
  • Keywords: prune, pruning, pruned
  • Date: October 2006

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A definitive consensus hasn’t been met about which season is the best to prune because all trees and shrubs have unique characteristics that determine how and when they should be pruned.

But generally, most pruning is done in fall or late winter when plants are dormant and not in a growth stage.

Spring is the time to correct any damage that may have occurred during the winter months. But late spring is the worst time to heavily prune a deciduous plant—when it’s leafed out and putting on new shoots. Pruning a plant when its energy is directed toward growth can shock a plant enough to cause dieback.

Early summer is the time to prune spring blooming shrubs such as lilacs so the shrub will have time to develop new growth which provides the buds which will bloom the following spring. Suckers should also be trimmed at this time.

Winter and early spring is also the best time to prune because most plants are dormant and their energy levels for defense and recovery are highest. They are not expending energy to grow.