While winter may seem like an ideal time to prune wayward stems and trim bushes into tidier shapes, pruning certain shrubs in winter can damage delicate branches or remove flower buds and reduce blooming in spring.
“Plants and trees do better if you prune them at a particular time that is favorable to their growth,” Tracy Weber, a horticulturist at Viles Arboretum, says. “For some, it’s the coldest months, and for others, it’s when spring is approaching.”
To help you avoid these pruning pitfalls, here are 10 common shrubs that you should never prune in winter, plus pruning tips to help these plants grow and flower better.
Meet the Expert
- Tracy Weber is a horticulturalist and the board chair of Viles Arboretum, located in Augusta, Maine.
- Cathy Rees is the executive director and co-founder of the Maine-based Native Gardens of Blue Hill.
