Take the guesswork out of pruning shrubs with this clear and easy guide
Spring-flowering shrubs need plenty of TLC to keep them looking their best. Some benefit from deadheading or annual pruning to stimulate growth and enhance flowering. Use the following guide to take the guesswork out of pruning flowering shrubs in your garden.
Abelia: Prune old or diseased wood in early spring. Signs of new growth will help you distinguish healthy shoots from damaged wood.
Azaleas: Whether evergreen or deciduous, only mature specimens require pruning (after 10 to 15 years, on average). For abundant blossoms the following spring, deadhead after bloom time; prune mature azaleas in midsummer.
Gardening Tips: Spring Pruning Guide
Ceanothus (California lilac): In spring, cut back all branches of deciduous ceanothus to the node where last year’s growth stopped. Evergreen ceanothus do not require pruning.
Crab apple: Species of Malus do not require pruning. However, watch for ground-level shoots that may arise on grafted root stock; remove these at once.
Dogwood: In spring, cut back one third of the branches of Cornus alba (and other species grown for their winter bark) to within two inches of old wood. Flowering dogwood (C. florida) and Japanese dogwood (C. kousa) need no pruning beyond routine removal of dead or damaged branches.
Forsythia: Prune out the oldest wood to the base immediately after flowering to encourage new growth and give it ample time to mature before frost.
Magnolia: Remove small interior and crossing branches in winter to allow more light to reach all parts of the shrub.
Mock orange: Philadelphus flowers on wood that was produced the previous year, so prune out the oldest stems after flowering to encourage new shoots.
Mountain laurel: Species of Kalmia need no pruning.
Ornamental pear: Species of Pyrus do not require pruning.
Prunus: Few ornamental cherries and plums require pruning. However, Prunus triloba (Russian almond) should be thinned in early summer.
Rhododendron: While deadheading is beneficial, routine pruning of rhododendrons is generally unnecessary. Old shrubs can be rejuvenated over three or four years by cutting out a quarter or a third of the stems from the ground in early spring or immediately after bloom time.
Spirea: To stimulate new growth, cut out one of every three branches right after flowering.
Syringa: After flowering, deadhead lilacs. Remove some of the oldest stems to the base, and shorten overly long ones. In winter, remove dead or damaged branches.
Viburnum: Remove damaged or overcrowed growth in early summer.
Witch hazel: Species of Hamamelis do not require pruning.
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