As winter settles in, it’s the perfect time to focus on pruning your trees and shrubs. During February and March, many woody landscape plants are dormant, making it easier to access their branches for maintenance. With the ground solidly frozen and leaves fallen, you can clearly see the structure of your plants, allowing for more effective pruning.
Pruning serves several important purposes. It helps improve the overall form of the plant, removing dead or dying branches, branch stubs, and any limbs that may have been damaged by disease, pests, or severe weather. Additionally, crossing branches can rub against each other, creating wounds that invite disease and pests. By pruning, you can open up the tree canopy, increasing airflow and light penetration, which ultimately leads to more flowers, leaves, and fruits.
Late winter is particularly advantageous for pruning because both the plants and their pests are dormant. This timing reduces the risk of pests and pathogens entering through the pruning cuts, ensuring a healthier plant.
So, which plants can you prune during this season? Deciduous trees such as maple, oak, elm, crabapple, and apple trees are all suitable candidates. Evergreens like spruce, pine, and fir can also be pruned, although they typically require less maintenance. For dense evergreens like arborvitae, lightly shearing the newer growth allows light to reach the interior of the plant.
When it comes to deciduous shrubs, renewal pruning is a beneficial technique. This involves removing about one-third of the stems to encourage new growth and maintain the shrub’s shape. Suitable shrubs for this type of pruning include alpine currant, barberry, burning bush, and dogwood.
However, be cautious with spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, magnolia, and azalea. Pruning these now will remove the flower buds, resulting in fewer blooms come spring. It’s best to wait until after they flower to prune them, ideally within two weeks of blooming.
For more detailed information on pruning techniques and plant lists, consider visiting resources like the University of Minnesota Extension. Happy gardening, and may your trees and shrubs flourish in the upcoming seasons! 🌿🌞