A Guide to Successful Pruning, Deciduous Tree Pruning Calendar

Authors: Bonnie Lee Appleton, Extension Nursery Specialist, Virginia Tech; Susan C. French, Research Specialist, Virginia Tech

Publication Number: 430-460, posted June 1998

Legend:
* = Best time to prune
x = Do not prune except to correct damage, hazards, or structural defects
- = Timing is not critical

Comments

Avoid pruning in late winter/early spring due to sap flow (more cosmetic than detrimental)
Avoid pruning from spring through summer due to insect or disease problems
Avoid pruning from October - December due to reduced cold hardiness
Avoid pruning after July because flower buds have set

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Comments
Ailanthus	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alder	*	*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*
Ash	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bald Cypress	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Beech	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	*	-	-	-
Birch	*	x	x	x	x	x	x	-	-	-	*	*	1,2
Buckeye	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Catalpa	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cherry, Flowering	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Chestnut, Chinese	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Crabapple	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Crape Myrtle	*	*	*	x	x	x	-	-	-	x	x	x	3
Dogwood	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Elm	x	x	x	x	x	x	-	-	-	*	*	*	1,2
Fringe Tree	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Ginko	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Goldenraintree	-	-	-	x	x	x	x	x	-	*	*	*
Hackberry	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	x	x	-	-	-	2
Hawthorn	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Hickory	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Honeylocust	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	-	-
Horsechestnut	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Katsura	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Linden	-	-	-	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	-	-
Magnolia	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Maple	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	-	*	*	1,2
Mimosa	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mountain Ash	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mulberry	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nyssa, Black Gum	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Oak	-	-	x	x	x	x	x	x	-	-	*	*	2
Peach, Flowering	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Pear, Flowering	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Plum, Flowering and Purple	x	x	x	x	x	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Poplar	-	x	x	x	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	*	1
Redbud	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	2,4
Serviceberry	x	x	x	x	*	*	*	x	x	x	x	x	4
Sophora	-	-	-	x	x	x	x	-	-	*	*	*
Sourwood	-	-	x	x	x	x	x	-	-	*	*	*
Stewartia	*	-	-	-	-	x	x	x	-	-	-	*
Sweetgum	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sycamore, Plane	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tuliptree	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Willow	-	x	x	x	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Zelkova	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Exception: Timing varies across USDA climate zones - zones within Virginia range from 8a in the Virginia Beach area to 5b along the West Virginia border.