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Pruning Charts
Seasonal Pruning Charts
The information below will help you decide when and how to prune your plantlife throughout each season.
Late Winter-Early Spring:
- This is the best season to prune most plants because it is prior to the beginning of growth.
- Prune at ground level of a few of the oldest canes from all mature shrubs, except the early flowering types.
- Trim deciduous hedges wider at the base narrower at the top.
- From dormant fruit trees - remove weak, broken and crowded branches.
- Head back branches that have flower buds.
- In spring, prune evergreens of winter damaged wood and discolored foliage.
- Avoid pruning frozen wood.
| PLANT: |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
| APPLE: |
Prune moderately. Trim for low head. Keep main branches well spaced around tree. |
| AZALEA: |
To renew old plants, fertilize well for one year. Then in spring, remove any damaged or overgrown canes. Could be poisonous. |
| CHERRY: |
Prune moderately, lightly prune the most vigorous shoots. |
| GRAPE: |
Heavily prune old wood back to the main vine. Cut previous year's growth back to four or five buds. |
| PEACH: |
Prune for low, ball-shaped top at a clean trunk. Vigorously prune one half of previous year's growth. Keep center of tree open for good air circulation. Very poisonous. |
| PLUM: |
Prune moderately and a little each year at the crown to keep shoots coming on. |
| BARBERRY: |
Prune lightly after flowering to restore shape. |
| ELDERBERRY: |
After fruiting, remove some of the oldest shoots at the ground, or cut back an old plant hard to force a new crop of canes. |
| HYDRANGIA: |
Prune Hills-of-Snow variety back to the ground. For other varieties, remove weak and dead growth and cut flowering stems back to two buds. |
| ROSES: |
(Hybrid, Tea and Perpetual) After frosts, cut away dead and weak growth and shorten remaining canes to four or five buds. |
| SNOWBERRY: |
Cut old twiggy canes. Cut back last season's growth of remaining parts to three buds. |
Late Spring-Early Summer:
- This is the season of greatest growth.
- Remove some of the oldest canes of mature shrubs after flowering. Pinch out tips to encourage branching.
- Freely trim narrow-leaf evergreens of new growth.
- Remove dead flowers from broad-leaf evergreens to prevent formation of speed pods.
- Pinch any buds that may be starting unwanted growth.
| PLANT: |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
| AZALEA: |
Prune for shape after all blooming has stopped. Could be poisonous. |
| DEUTZIA: |
Prune lightly to remove a few older branches and dead twigs after blooming has stopped. |
| DOGWOOD: |
(Flowering) After flowering, remove dead wood only. (Other) Prune dead wood only to preserve natural beauty. |
| FORSYTHIA: |
After flowering, remove a few older branches. For old, neglected plants, cut back entire plant to about one foot, leave three to five canes. Could be poisonous. |
| HONEYSUCKLE: |
Cut some of the oldest wood to the ground every four to five years. Pinch shoots to encourage branching. Could be poisonous. |
| MOUNTAIN LAUREL: |
Prune lightly. Pinch off clusters of spent blossoms. Remove a few old branches at the ground to induce new growth from roots. Could be poisonous. |
| PRIVET: |
In April, cut back hard to rejuvenate old plants. Could be poisonous. |
| RHODODENDRON: |
Same as Mountain Laurel. |
| ROSES: |
(Climbing) After flowering, prune one half of the old growth at the ground. Keep new shoots for next year's flowers. |
| PINE/SPRUCE: |
Cut back candles on side of branches of young trees to one half or less after needles have expanded but before hardening |
Summer:
- Summer pruning entails removal of plant parts that are actively at work.
- Shear hedges regularly for appearance.
- Prune some lower branches from shade trees to develop clean trunks.
- Always be ready to pinch tips of leafy shoots, but not until after flowering.
- Limit pruning done late in the summer as new growth may be damaged by the coming low temperatures.
| PLANT: |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
| APPLE: |
Prune to encourage good structure growth and suppoprt. |
| BLACKBERRY: |
Cut back new shoots to approximately three and one half feet. |
| CRABAPPLE: |
Cut away weak internal shoots and crowded branches to a crotch. Thin out weeping and spreading forms to accentuate their growth patterns. |
| HOLLY: |
Prune at any time of the year to restore shape. |
| RASPBERRY: |
Head back new canes to approximately 22 inches. Remove spent canes and excess shoots. |
| ROSES: |
Prune lightly to shorten shoots only. Remove faded flowers (except for species roses). |
| PRIVET: |
Starting in June, trim to shape three times at six week intervals. |
| YEW: |
Trim to maintain shape. Could be poisonous. |
| WILD CHERRY: |
Prune very lightly. Trim lower branches and burn the extremely poisonous wilted foliage. |
Fall-Winter:
- Prune shade trees all winter for general shaping and to repair damage.
- Prune shrubs once more in September, especially to remove basal suckers.
- Avoid pruning evergreens.
- When removing heavy limbs, use proper safety proceedures.
| PLANT: |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
| HONEYSUCKLE: |
Remove gnarled and diseased old wood. Could be poisonous. |
| MOCK ORANGE: |
Remove a few of the oldest canes every three to four years. |
| PEONY: |
(Herbaceous) Cut to the ground as leaves mature and look dry. |
| ROSES: |
(Tea and Hybrid) Lightly prune to prevent wind whipping and storm damage. |
| FIR: |
Use sharp tools to remove diseased or injured branches during very cold weather only. |
©2007 Better Garden Tools
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