Trimming your trees and shrubs during the proper season is key to keeping them healthy and encouraging new growth. The ideal time to prune most plants is late winter while plants are dormant. However, the best choice is to wait until shortly after the blooming season.



    Why Late Winter Pruning Is Best

    Pruning most trees and shrubs during the late winter has several benefits. Among them: Back wounds heal quickly because the tree is not actively growing, preventing disease and insect infestation. 

    There is less sap flow, so pruning wounds are cleaner. Bleeding sap is messy and attracts pests. It is easier to see the branches and assess what needs pruning when there are no leaves. 

    Removing dead wood in late winter improves the plant’s health before spring growth starts. There is a lower risk of transmitting disease compared to pruning during the active growing season. Plants don’t waste valuable energy on branches that will be removed. They can focus resources on new growth.


    Pruning Guidelines by Plant Type

    Not all plants are the same, and they need specific care based on what type of plant they are. That includes pruning. Here are a few guidelines to follow for various types of plants:

    Prune in late winter when fully dormant. Avoid pruning in early fall since new growth may get damaged by winter weather.

    Prune in late winter while dormant. Exceptions are spring bloomers that should be pruned after flowering.

    Prune these flowering shrubs — lilacs, forsythia, and viburnum — right after they bloom. Pruning too early will remove this season’s flower buds.

    Trim spirea, rose of Sharon (common hibiscus), and butterfly bushes in late winter before new growth starts.

    Prune out old floricanes that have already produced fruit. Leave new primocanes that will bear fruit next season.


    Pruning Tasks for Any Time of Year

    You can do certain light pruning and deadheading any time of year. Pinch off or trim back small branches, twigs, and shoots. Remove any damaged or dead branches. (You can use hand shears for branches up to ½-inch in diameter.)

    For overgrown shrubs and hedges, you can thin them out with hand clippers. However, avoid major chopping that removes more than one-third of the plant.

    Today’s Homeowner Tips

    To encourage reblooming, snip off spent blooms on flowering plants after the blossoms fade.


    Equipment for Trimming Trees and Shrubs

    Our experience shows that having the right tools makes pruning easier for you and helps you make clean cuts:

    Hedge Shears
    Image Credit: Canva
    Chainsaw
    Image Credit: Canva
    • Bypass pruners/loppers: For cutting stems up to ½-inch diameter. Make clean cuts that seal quickly.
    • Loppers: Longer handles allow you to reach higher branches with the same clean-cutting action as hand pruners.
    • Pole pruners: Extend your reach to taller branches with a trigger-operated pruner head on an extension pole. These can be rented if you don’t want to buy them.
    • Hedge shears: Powered or manual shears with long blades to trim hedges and shrubs.
    • Chainsaws: For cutting thick branches that won’t fit lopper jaws. Get professional help for anything over 6 inches in diameter.
    • Shop vacuum: Catches falling debris as you work. Essential for minimizing cleanup time. These are available for rent as well.

    So, Is Late Winter the Best Time to Prune Trees and Shrubs?

    For most trees and shrubs, late winter is ideal for pruning. Branches are easier to access without leaves, sap flow slows, and wounds seal up quickly before spring growth starts. 

    However, pruning spring bloomers right after flowering avoids removing next year’s flower buds. With the right approach and tools, pruning in winter prepares your landscaping for healthy new growth.


    FAQs About Pruning Trees and Shrubs

    How much should I prune trees and shrubs?

    Avoid cutting off more than one-third of a branch’s growth in one year. In my experience, over-pruning stresses the plant.


    When is the worst time to prune trees and shrubs?

    Avoid pruning and trimming trees and shrubs in early spring when buds swell or in late fall after new growth has hardened. These are critical times when pruning wounds heal slowly.


    Can I use household scissors to prune plants?

    Avoid household scissors to prune plants. It’s better to hand pruners that make clean cuts. Scissors tend to mash and tear the stems rather than making sharp, clean slices.


    Should I paint pruning wounds?

    You should not paint wounded limbs. Experts once recommended painting pruned limbs with wound dressing, but research shows the practice slows healing and may promote rot.


    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Coty Perry

    Coty Perry

    Expert Writer & Reviewer

    Coty Perry is a lawn and garden writer for Today’s Homeowner. He focuses on providing homeowners with actionable tips that relate to the “Average Joe” who is looking to achieve a healthier and greener lawn. When he isn’t writing he can almost always be found coaching youth football or on some trail in Pennsylvania in search of the next greatest fishing hole.

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    Sabrina Lopez

    Editor

    Sabrina Lopez is a senior editor for Today’s Homeowner with over 7 years of writing and editing experience in digital media. She has reviewed content across categories that matter to homeowners, including HVAC services, home renovations, lawn and garden care, products for the home, and insurance services. When she’s not reviewing articles to make sure they are helpful, accessible, and engaging for homeowners like herself, Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family and their two parrots.

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