Learn how, when, and what to prune in your garden for the healthiest plants possible.
The ideal window depends on the jot down of plant.
Take the mystery out of when and how to do it properly with this guide on pruning plants.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Dead stems attract insects and invite diseases.
When to Prune Hydrangeas
Manyhydrangea typesbloom on old wood, including bigleaf and oakleaf forms.
Prune these types ofhydrangeasbefore midsummer.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
If you prune them in winter or early spring, youll remove flower buds.
The best time to prune them is late spring, immediately after they finish blooming.
To keep spring bloomers flowering vigorously, remove some of the oldest shoots all the way to the ground.
Credit: Matthew Benson
This allows younger stems to grow and bloom.
New growth that starts after late-season pruning will be too tender to survive winter.
Keep the top a little narrower than the base so that the upper branches dont shade the lower ones.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Stop shearing the hedge about six weeks before your areas average first frost.
Late winter to early spring or mid-to-late summer are some of thebest times to prunehedges more drastically.
Prune after they finish blooming.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
If they become overgrown, cut them back in early spring.
As with non-blooming shrubs, avoid pruning them late in summer.
The sap flow may be unsightly, but it doesnt harm the tree.
Credit: Laurie Black
Thebest time to prunethem is in early spring, just before they put on their growth spurt.
Save on holiday decorations by snipping a few branches for winter holiday greenery.
Avoid cutting back into wood that doesnt have any green needles; it may not sprout new growth.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
When to Prune Pine Trees
Truepinesare pickier about their pruning needs than other needle-leaf evergreens.
Pines only form buds at branch tips before the stem becomes woody.
Prune just a portion of the new growth, removing up to half of the expanding candle.
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As a bonus, many perennials will push out another cycle of blooms after deadheading.
This jot down of haircut causes them to branch and become stockier.
When to Prune Annual Flowers
Deadheadannual flowersregularly tokeep them blooming well.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Removing the old flowers prevents them from setting seed and allows plants to put more energy into blooming.
Some annuals, likepetunias, sprawl and develop bare stems at their bases.
As with perennials, you might shear these rangy plants to force more compact growth and renewed bloom.
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Cut the old stems off at ground level.
When to Prune Cane Berries
Raspberriesandblackberriesgrow on long stems called canes.
On most types, the cane doesnt fruit until its second year of growth.
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Remove two-year-old canes soon after they finish bearing.
They wont fruit again, and they can spread disease if left to grow.
Pinch back the tips of first-year canes when they reach about 3-4 feet to cause the cane to branch.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Everbearing types of raspberries are an exception.
They form a late-summer crop on the tips of first-year canes, so dont pinch them back in midsummer.
Instead, allow the canes to flower and fruit for a fall crop.
Credit: Andre' Baranowski
Remove the stem tips that have produced fruit in winter.
The following summer, the lower portion of the stem will fruit.
After it finishes bearing, completely remove the fruited cane.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
When to Prune Grape Vines
Grapesgrow vigorously and need extensive pruning each year to keep them productive.
Most training systems for grapes involve developing a main stem or trunk with several lateral stems or arms.
Grapes fruit on these lateral stems, which are shoots from the current seasons woody growth.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Prune all grapes close to the lateral arms each year during the dormant season to produce the best fruit.
Always take into consideration the key in, material, and cutting capacity of the shears.
Pruning may remove inches from your favorite plant, but think of it as a haircut.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Youre trimming so the plant can grow back healthy and deceased-free.
Credit: Granen Photography
Credit: Matthew Benson
