When to prune flowering shrubs

The best time of year to prune a shrub depends on what kind of plant it is. That’s one of the many good reasons to identify the shrubs in your yard.

In general, timing your pruning isn’t as complicated as many homeowners fear.

When should you not trim bushes?

Here are some general tips and words of wisdom from the pros:

Winter is usually the best time. If you live in an area with distinct winters, the time when shrubs have lost their leaves and become dormant is an excellent time to prune them.

Without the leaves, you can easily see the branching structure of the shrub and decide what to cut. Dormant pruning is usually done in late winter, six to 10 weeks before the average last frost in your area.

You can prune shrubs at any time of year if it’s necessary—for example, to remove broken branches or dead or diseased wood, or to remove growth that is obstructing a walkway.

However, when you prune a leafed-out shrub it’s harder to see what you’re doing. Pruning during the growing season also has a greater risk of spreading diseases and may cause unwanted flushes of growth.

Avoid pru