How to Prune Shrubs in Spring

Pruning shrubs in the spring is a common task for many homeowners. Pruning in spring allows ample time for cuts to heal quickly and hide themselves with new foliage. It also provides a good opportunity for homeowners to examine the structure of shrubs while they are bare of leaves. There are common misunderstandings surrounding spring pruning, however. Some people prune too frequently assuming all shrubs need regular thinning and shaping. Others wait so long to prune a problem shrub that it becomes difficult to do the job properly. Spring pruning is not hard, but it does take planning, research and the right tools.

Gloves

Safety glasses

Hand pruning tool

Lopping shears

Pruning saw

Learn about your shrub. Some shrubs have specific pruning requirements and it's important to follow these. It's also helpful to understand the growth habits, flowering time and maintenance requirements of your shrub as these can impact pruning decisions. Learn the natural shape of your shrub and let it guide your cuts. This will result in a more aesthetically pleasing plant that is easier to maintain.

Set goals. Don't prune without a clear reason. Common reasons for spring pruning include removing dead or diseased branches, reducing overall size, maintaining a desired shape, increasing foliage density, improving flowering and rejuvenating older shrubs.

Time it right. While spring is generally a good season for pruning, your exact timing will depend on your plant. It is best to prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilac, mock-orange, and forsythia, just after they bloom to avoid removing the flower buds that formed last fall. Prune summer-flowering shrubs, like butterfly bush, crape myrtle and beautyberry, in very early spring before new growth appears.

Choose your tools. Use a hand pruning tool, a lopping shears, or pruning saw, depending on the thickness of the limb. The hand pruner is suitable for branches up to about one-fourth inch. Use the lopping shears to cut limbs about three-fourths to one and a half inches. Use a pruning saw for larger branches. Do not use hedge sheers unless you are creating a formal hedge or sculpted shrub.

Make thinning cuts. Use these cuts to remove entire branches or shoots. You can cut a shoot to the ground, to the main trunk or to its parent branch. If you are cutting it back to a branch or trunk, make the cut just above the connection point with the main branch without leaving a long stub. This will hide the cut better, help it heal quickly and result in a more natural appearance.

Make heading back cuts. Heading back is commonly performed to reduce the size of the shrub or to correct problem growth. Selectively cut the ends of several branches back to a healthy lateral bud or branch. This will stimulate new growth from that point.

Start early. Don't wait until your shrub becomes a problem to start pruning. Examine your shrub each year to look for branches that may cause trouble in the ,and correct them early on.

Choose an appropriate shrub for your space. Plants that are sized correctly to their setting will need little pruning.

Don't shear a shrub by randomly cutting all the branches back to the same height. This can result in dense, unnatural looking foliage on the exterior and bare branches on the interior of the bush.

Don't thin the shrub too much without making some heading cuts. Too much thinning can result in a spindly shape.

Don't overdo your heading back cuts. Cutting the ends of too many branches will result in dense exterior foliage that can shade out interior growth.

When pruning a diseased shrub, always disinfect the pruning tool between cuts to avoid spreading the disease.