When should you cut back trees and shrubs?

Pruning is essential for maintaining good growth, keeping formal beds and gardens looking tidy, and managing or preventing the spread of disease. Knowing when to prune plants in the garden will ensure you don’t make mistakes that can counteract your efforts.

When to prune flowering shrubs

There is some leeway but also a few general rules about pruning times for garden plants.

When Should Plants Be Cut Back?

There is some wiggle room in when you trim certain plants in your garden, depending on your climate, the species, and how you like your garden to look.

A general pruning calendar should serve as a guideline though:

• Early spring – Trim back semi-woody perennials, like Russian sage and butterfly bush.
• Early summer – After spring-blooming plants have flowered, you can trim them back.

  For spring bulbs, wait until the foliage yellows.

• Summer – Deadhead annuals and flowering perennials. Prune back some of the branches to encourage fuller growth.
• Late summer through fall – Deadhead annuals and perennials as needed.

  Once the plants are spent in the fall, remove annuals en

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