We sometimes wish to prune flowering shrubs, in order to shape them or keep them within certain bounds. But we worry that we'll miss out on this year's blossoms if we prune at the incorrect time. Here's the general rule of thumb to know when to prune particular plants:
If you are undertaking a routine pruning, observe the ornamental shrubs' blooming habits. For ornamental shrubs that bloom in summer or fall on the current year's growth, prune in winter. For ornamental shrubs that bloom in spring from last year's growth, prune after their blooms begin to die.
If you are pruning flowering shrubs to rejuvenate them, the best time to prune is late winter or early spring. True, pruning the ornamental shrubs at this time will reduce or eliminate blossoming in spring that year, but the trade-off is in gaining healthier, more vigorous ornamental shrubs for the long run.
In the next FAQ on garden shrubs, we'll discuss when to prune evergreen shrubs.
Ahead to > Next FAQ on Garden Shrubs
