Early-spring pruning is an important chore that sets the stage for a thriving garden throughout the growing season. By correctly pruning, deheading, and cutting certain plants, you can help your garden to grow thick foliage and abundant blooms. Read our guide below to learn how to identify plants you should prune in early spring, how to maintain your outdoor space, and how to avoid common pruning pitfalls.
Understanding the Importance of Early-Spring Pruning
When you remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches, you improve the overall health and appearance of your plants. This process also stimulates new growth, encourages better air circulation, and allows more sunlight to reach the inner parts of shrubs and trees. Early-spring pruning also helps to shape plants and control their size so that they’ll fit snugly in your garden.
Identifying Plants That Benefit from Early-Spring Pruning
Early-spring pruning helps some plants, but it can harm others. Below are some categories of plants that benefit most from early-spring pruning:
Summer-Flowering Deciduous Shrubs
You should prune summer-flowering deciduous shrubs in early spring. This is the perfect time to encourage fresh shoots and buds. Examples of these plants include the following:
- Butterfly bush
- Crape myrtle
- Rose of Sharon
Prune these shrubs in late winter or early spring while they’re still dormant. You can see the structure of the plants and make precise cuts more easily during this time.
Random-Branching Conifer Trees and Shrubs
Conifer trees and shrubs that feature random branching patterns also benefit from early-spring pruning. These include the following:
- Arborvitae
- Holly
- Juniper
- Yew
Wait until spring when lighter-colored new growth appears to attend to these plants. This allows time for cuts to heal and new buds to form. Use thinning cuts to manage overgrown shrubs. Prune back to a branch with needles or leaves to encourage new growth.
Deciduous Perennial Vines
Prune deciduous perennial vines that bloom on new growth in early spring. These include the following:
- Boston ivy
- Climbing hydrangea
- Trumpet vine
Prune these vines in late winter or early spring to control growth and promote successful branching. You can trim ivies anytime, but you should save heavy shaping for late winter or early spring before leaves appear.
Essential Tools for Early-Spring Pruning
Gather the tools below before you start pruning.
Hand Pruners
Use hand pruners to cut branches up to 3/4 inch in diameter. Use bypass pruners to make clean cuts on live wood and anvil pruners for dead wood.
Loppers
Use loppers to cut branches that are between 3/4 inch and 1 1/2 inches thick. They provide extra leverage for tough cuts, and you can use them to reach higher branches.
Pruning Saws
Use a pruning saw to cut branches that are larger than 1 1/2 inches in diameter. These come in various sizes and styles, such as folding saws, which are easy to store, and pole saws, which you can use to reach high branches safely from the ground.
5 Key Techniques for Effective Early-Spring Pruning
Use the five pruning techniques below to maintain healthy, attractive plants:
Heading Cuts
This technique promotes side branching and denser growth. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle that’s about 1/4 inch above an outward-facing bud. This will encourage outward growth.
Thinning Cuts
Thinning cuts involve removing entire branches back to the nearest limb or trunk. This technique improves air circulation and light penetration without changing the plant’s natural shape. Make these cuts just outside the branch collar without leaving a stub.
Rejuvenation Pruning
Rejuvenation pruning involves cutting old, overgrown shrubs until they’re 6-12 inches from the ground. This drastic technique stimulates new growth from the base of the plant. Use this method only when you’re handling shrubs that respond well to hard pruning.
Deadheading
Deadheading involves removing spent flowers. This isn’t typically considered pruning, but it’s an important early-spring task that encourages repeat blooming and prevents plants from wasting energy on seed production.
Shaping
Shaping involves selectively pruning a plant so that it achieves a specific form. It’s especially useful if you’re handling hedges and topiaries. Use a combination of heading and thinning cuts to maintain the plant’s shape while allowing light to reach the interior.
Timing Your Early-Spring Pruning
Proper timing is important for successful early-spring pruning. Here’s when to start pruning, and which plants to focus on:
When To Start Pruning
Begin pruning when the worst of winter has passed, but before new growth begins. This falls between late February and early April in most places.
Plants To Prune in Late Winter
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant in late winter. This includes fruit trees, shade trees, and summer-flowering shrubs. Pruning at this time allows plants to heal quickly as new growth begins.
Plants To Prune in Early Spring
Early spring is the best time to prune spring-flowering shrubs that bloom on old wood, such as forsythia and lilac. Wait until after they finish flowering so that you don’t accidentally remove flower buds. This is also a good time to prune evergreens.
Common Mistakes To Avoid in Early-Spring Pruning
Avoid the common mistakes below when you begin pruning.
Over-Pruning
Removing too much growth can put stress on plants and prevent them from producing food through photosynthesis. Don’t remove more than 25% of a plant’s live growth in a single season.
Improper Cutting Techniques
Making cuts in the wrong places can lead to disease, poor growth, or plant death. Always cut just above a bud or branch collar, and avoid leaving stubs or making flush cuts against the trunk.
Neglecting Tool Maintenance
Dull or dirty tools can damage plants and spread disease. Clean your tools with rubbing alcohol when you finish pruning one plant and before you move on to another.
Ignoring Plant Health
You must understand your plant’s health to successfully prune. Avoid pruning stressed or unhealthy plants, as they may struggle to recover. Always prioritize the plant’s overall wellbeing and growth habits.
Plants To Avoid Pruning in Early Spring
Many plants benefit from early-spring pruning, but you should leave the plants below alone during this time:
Spring-Flowering Shrubs
Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons in early spring. These plants set their flower buds a year before growth begins, so early-spring pruning removes the subsequent year’s blooms. Prune these shrubs once they finish flowering instead.
Certain Hydrangea Varieties
Traditional mophead hydrangeas set buds on the preceding year’s growth. It’s technically safe to remove dead wood and spent flowers, but you should avoid major shaping until late summer to preserve the subsequent season’s blooms.
Early-Blooming Perennials
Don’t cut back early-blooming perennials such as peonies and bleeding hearts until after they’ve finished flowering. These plants rely on the preceding year’s foliage to fuel spring growth and blooms.
Specific Fruit Trees
Some fruit trees, such as cherries and apricots, are susceptible to disease if you prune them in early spring. Wait until late summer or early fall to prune these trees instead. This reduces the risk of infection and promotes better plant health.
Aftercare for Pruned Plants
You must properly care for your plants after pruning them to help them recover quickly and thrive. Follow the directions below.
Watering Practices
Water pruned plants regularly, especially during dry spells. This reduces stress and promotes healthy new growth.
Fertilization Tips
Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer around the base of plants you’ve pruned to support new growth. Don’t over-fertilize, as this can lead to weak, leggy growth.
Mulching Techniques
Apply a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch around plants you’ve pruned, but keep it away from the plant’s trunk or stems. Mulch helps the plant to retain moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppress weeds. This allows plants to focus energy on new growth.
Monitoring Growth
Regularly inspect pruned plants to make sure they’re recovering well and responding positively to any cuts. Watch out for signs of stress, disease, or pests, and take immediate action if you notice any issues.
