Pruning should be completed before the fruit trees begin to break bud leaf out in early spring. Evergreen trees, such as pine, spruce, and fir, require little pruning. Dead, broken, and diseased branches can be removed at any time of year. Late winter is the best time to remove unwanted lower branches on evergreen trees.
Spruce and fir trees possess side or lateral buds on their newest outermost growth. To promote denser growth, cut shoots back to just above a lateral bud or side branch in early spring. Growth on pine trees develops from terminal buds. Pines do not produce side or lateral buds.
The growth of pines can be slowed by pinching or pruning off one-half to two-thirds of the elongated terminal buds "candles" in spring when the candles are approximately 2 to 3 inches long. Do not prune branches back to older growth down the stem as new growth will not develop from these areas. Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on March 13, The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed. You are here Home. For a few must-have tools check out this blog. Every plant has different pruning needs and a good reference book is helpful when determining how and when to prune your hydrangeas, crepe myrtles, broad leaf evergreens and conifers for conifers, pretty much never , and so forth.
But no gardener should ever wait to prune out dead, diseased and damaged wood. It helps prevent disease and pests, as these open wounds serve as the perfect portal for both. Size is the most common reason people prune, as foundation shrubs overtake the front of the house and trees outgrow lot sizes. The plant and its needs will determine the type of pruning to be done. Most deciduous shrubs are going to benefit from thinning or heading, or both.
Removing old growth at the base of the shrub, and new pencil-thin stems thinning , will give room for air circulation and light. Heading back branches forces energy reserves into shoot and bud formation. Here are some pruning basics, to be used when it's a safer time to trim back trees and shrubs:.
Then, it drops below freezing that night, and boom — not a pretty sight. Instead, prune in the dead of winter or in early spring, he suggests. That's if you can't stop yourself. But get over this pruning obsession — few plants other than fruit trees actually require it, and most gardeners do too much, not too little," McGrath contends. Still, proper pruning of overgrown flowering shrubs or fruit trees near your house will help the plants produce more flowers and fruit, which can also benefit wildlife.
Doing it wisely can also help trees and shrubs give diseases and pests the cold shoulder. Just remember … don't do it in the fall! Waiting until winter means that most woody plants are dormant, and because leaves have already fallen, it makes it easier for you to see what you're doing. For early spring bloomers like lilacs and spireas that only need light pruning, prune them just after they finish blooming. For very overgrown deciduous shrubs, winter pruning is probably best.
As a general rule of thumb, don't prune when it's damp outside. As the fall comes rolling in, homeowners start the chore of cleaning up their property. They crave getting outside to prepare their gardens and landscape for the upcoming winter and part of their routine is to prune shrubs, trees and plants.
Pruning at this time of year will severely weaken the plants. This is disastrous for the plants and all the hard work you did during the year to make your landscape beautiful. If you can wait until all the leaves have fallen, you will allow the trees and shrubs the ability to have better structure and strength to make it through the winter to next spring without any damage.
So, put your pruners away for another month or two and let plants go completely dormant. Once the dormancy has settled in, you can prune trees and shrubs after all the leaves have dropped. Pruning during the right time of year for overgrown flowering shrubs or fruit trees will help the plants produce more flowers and fruit when spring rolls around again.
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