Pruning Flowering Shrubs

— Written By and last updated by Nancie Mandeville
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲
flowering shrub

You may have heard it said that pruning is both an art and a science. The science part relates to making proper pruning cuts so that the plant can properly seal those wounds made when you prune. The art part of pruning comes down to how you want the plant to look – formal as in the case of sheared plants or informal or more natural when you prune the plant so that it maintains the shape it grows to naturally but in a somewhat controlled manner.

I begin to see folks pruning shrubs in their yards and garden in December in my neighborhood. If the plants have gone dormant it is fine to prune them, but often times they may not be completely dormant and winter injury could result in dieback of branches that is not evident until the spring and the plant begins to grow.

When it comes to pruning flower shrubs you should prune based on when the plants’ flower. Plants that flower in spring, form their flower buds at the end of the summer of the previous year. If you prune in winter, you will be removing flower buds and the result will be no flowers in the spring. For spring flowering shrubs, the best time to prune is immediately after they have finished flowering. Some examples of spring flowering shrubs that should be pruned after they flower are forsythia, azalea, loropetalum, camellia, and oakleaf and mophead hydrangea. Prune these before July 4 so that you do not interfere with bud development for next year’s flowers.

Summer flowering shrubs form their flower buds on new growth each spring. Late winter to early spring, just before new growth begins is the best time to prune summer-flowering shrubs. Crapemyrtle is an example of a summer flowering shrub that you should prune at this time.

If you have questions on when to prune or how to prune, contact the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Union County at their Growline at 704-283-3822.