The pruning guide you've been searching for. We turn ordinary people into expert gardeners by giving you secret information like this. Our team of gardeners has anywhere from 5 to 30 years of experience. We know what it feels like to get frustrated and struggle gardening, but we also know what it feels like to succeed and overcome obstacles. We're on the gardening journey with you and are here to help! Check out this guide and pruning video at the bottom to become an expert on how and when to prune your plants.
| FRUIT TREES | |
| All fruit trees | Late winter is best |
| TREES | |
| Alder | Late May-June (minor pruning earlier) |
| Amelanchier | Anytime, after bloom |
| Ash | Anytime if treated |
| Birch | Minor pruning in early spring (not May-Aug) |
| Black Walnut | January-March |
| Butternut | January-March |
| Catalpa | Anytime |
| Crabapples | Late winter / early spring before bloom |
| Elm | April-July |
| Ginkgo | Anytime |
| Hackberry | Anytime |
| Hawthorn | Late winter to early spring |
| Hazelnut | Anytime |
| Honeylocust | Late winter (when dry; also in June) |
| Horsechestnut | Late winter, early spring |
| Ironwood | Early spring |
| Ivory Silk Lilac | Only after flowering |
| Kentucky Coffeetree | Anytime |
| Linden | Anytime |
| Magnolia | Only after bloom |
| Maple | May-summer is best |
| Mountain Ash | Later winter / early spring |
| Mulberry | Anytime |
| Oak | November-March (to prevent oak wilt) |
| Pears | After bloom is best |
| Plum | After bloom is best |
| Poplar | Late winter / early spring |
| Redbud | After bloom is best |
| Willow | Late winter / early spring, less canker |
| SHRUBS | |
| Althea | Anytime, Blooms on new wood |
| Amelanchier | Anytime, After bloom is best if want to enjoy |
| Aronia | Renewal prune |
| Barberry | Anytime, Renewal prune in spring |
| Boxwood | Anytime-July |
| Buddlia | Early spring, 6" from ground |
| Caryopteris | Early spring, 6" from ground |
| Clethra | Early spring |
| Cotoneaster | After bloom is best |
| Alpine currant | Anytime |
| Diervilla | Anytime |
| Dogwood | Anytime, Renewal pruning in spring |
| Elderberry | Early spring, Severely prune |
| Forsythia | After bloom in spring |
| F. Bronx & Citrus Swizzle | Anytime |
| Fothergilla | Prune after flowering to shape |
| Hazelnut | Early spring, Renewal prune |
| Honeysuckle | Early spring, Renewal prune/shape anytime |
| Hypericum | Early spring |
| Ilex | Renewal prune late winter/early spring |
| Kerria | Early spring severely |
| Lilac | Immediately after bloom ONLY! And, renewal prune removing the oldest stems out at the ground level |
| Maple shrubs | Anytime |
| Mockorange | Immediately after bloom, Can be cut severely |
| Ninebark | After bloom, Renewal prune if needed |
| Potentilla | Spring, Take out some old wood to ground |
| Privet | Anytime, Renewal prune |
| Prunus | After bloom |
| Quince | After bloom |
| Rhododendron/ Azalea | Immediately after bloom, Lightly |
| Snowberry | Early spring, before new growth |
| Sorbaria | Early spring, before new growth Spirea-Small |
| Spirea - small reblooming | Early spring & right after first set of blooms |
| Spirea Grefsheim | Early spring |