It’s safe to start pruning once the risk of hard overnight frosts (below 20 degrees F) has passed, and when it’s warm enough to prune in the spring.
If you don’t have access to a garden center, you can use a small garden tool, such as a knife, to cut off the stems and leaves of the plants you want to remove.
You can also use scissors or a pair of tweezers to trim the leaves and stems of plants that are too tall to be pruned.
Table of Contents
When should you not prune bushes?
Don’t trim shrubs in the late summer. ThePruning shrubs in August or early September may encourage a late flush of growth. This growth is vulnerable to frost damage and may not be sufficiently hardened before cold weather arrives.
If you are pruning a shrub in the fall, be sure to remove any dead or dying branches that may have fallen from the tree during the winter. If you do not remove the dead branches, they may become a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects.
Can you prune in freezing weather?
Young trees are potentially the most dangerous because of large cuts. If near 0° F temperatures are predicted, all pruning should stop at least 5 days before the predicted temperature. The best time to prune is in late spring or early summer, when the tree is at its peak growth.
The tree should not be pruned during the coldest months of the year, such as December and January, because this can lead to frost damage to the trunk and branches. In the fall, the trees should be cut back to a height of 2 to 3 feet, depending on the size of your tree and the amount of growth that has occurred in the spring and summer.
What can I prune in February?
Many summer-flowering deciduous shrubs can be pruned between February and March; usually those that flower on the current year’s growth. Shrubs that need regular trimming include Buddleja davidii, Ceratostigma, Hydrangea paniculata, Lavatera, Leycesteria, Perovskia, and hardy fuchsias.
What months are considered late winter?
The late winter is when the spring thaw begins. Count the days until the next frost by using your average last frost date. If you see frost on the ground or in the air, it is likely that you have frost in your area.
What time of year do you cut hedges?
If you want to avoid trimming the hedge during its peak growing season, it’s best to be late winter or early spring. After the flowering season, try to cut the hedge back. The shape of the hedge will be the same as when it was cut if you get the timing right.
Do you cut down plants in winter?
A good rule of thumb is that if the plant blooms on new growth, it can be trimmed in the winter before the new season starts.
If you want to prune a plant that has already bloomed, you will have to wait until it is dormant again before you can cut it back to its original size.
This is because the dormant plant will not be able to produce new leaves, so it will need to be cut back in the spring.