Pruning Tips & Methods
Timing is the most important factor when pruning. Large shrubs with adequate space can look attractive without regular trimming. Some species do well with an annual or bi-annual touch-up, while others benefit from attention every 3 – 5 years.
If you find yourself cutting back the same plant every year due to size, transplant it to a location where it can fulfill its natural size and replace it with a smaller species.
This list matches plant species to various trimming methods below. Please bookmark for reference and reach out with any questions or plant maintenance needs.
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Method Guide
- Blooms on old wood. New blooms have been stored during last summer and fall. Trim to desired shape in the first weeks after flowering then leave be so it can develop naturally without cutting off next year’s buds.
- Blooms on new wood so shape anytime after full leaf drop and before winter’s end. Prune to your heart’s content, then leave it be to flower and / or fruit.
- Treasured more for its foliage than its bloom. Shape anytime after full leaf drop and before the end of winter, then if needed, a light touch-up no later than mid July.
- This is a “cut-back shrub”. It benefits from a severe cut-back every year or two. Lop branches back to 12-18″ above ground-level anytime after full leaf drop and before the end of winter, then leave it be.
- This plant is generally left alone because any pruning may severely disrupt its flowering for one year.
- This plant is also highly valued due to its fruit so prune carefully.
Abelia – 2
Althea – 2
Amelanchier – 1, 6
Aronia – 1, 6
Azalea – 5
Bayberry – 3, 6
Beauty Bush – 1
Blueberry – 5, 6
Blue Mist Spirea – 4
Buddleia – 4
Burning Bush – 3
Butterfly Bush – 4
Callicarpa – 2
Cardinal Shrub – 1
Caryopteris – 4
Cercis – 1
Chaenomeles – 1
Chaste Tree – 4
Chokeberry – 1, 6
Cotinus – 5
Clethra – 1
Corylopsis – 1
Crape Myrtle – 2
Cytisus – 1
Deutzia – 1
Euonymus – 3
Exbury Azalea – 5
Forsythia – 1
Fothergilla – 5
Hamamelis – 5
Hibiscus – 2
Hollyberry – 5, 6
Hydrangea – 5
(mophead, lacecap, mountain, oakleaf, climbing)
Hydrangea – 2
(panicle, smooth)
Hypericum – 1
Itea – 1
Kerria – 1
Kolkwitzia – 1
Lagerstroemia – 1
Ligustrum – 3
Lilac – 5
Magnolia – 1
Myrica – 3, 6
Ninebark – 1
Philadelphus – 1
Physocarpus – 1
Potentilla – 2
Privet – 3
Prunus -1
Quince – 1
Redbud – 1
Rose of Sharon – 2
Salix – 1
Sand Cherry – 1
Schizophragma – 5
Scotch Broom – 1
Serviceberry – 1, 6
Smoke Tree – 5
Spirea (spring) – 1
Spirea (summer) – 2
Summersweet – 1
Syringa – 5
Vaccinium – 5, 6
Viburnum – 5, 6
Vitex – 4
Weigela – 1
Winterberry – 5, 6
Winter Hazel – 1
Witch Hazel – 5