A Guide to Successful Pruning, Shrub Pruning Calendar

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

Publication Number: 430-462, posted June 1998

Shrub Pruning Calendar

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

Comments

  1. Flowers are produced on new (current season) wood
  2. Flowers are produced on wood from past season, pruning while dormant will reduce flowers
  3. Make pruning cuts well below diseased wood (fire blight) - disinfect shears between cuts
  4. Remove old stems to ground yearly to renew
  5. Midseason shear if a formal hedge is desired
  6. Do not cut into old wood that has no leaves or needles
  7. Spring/summer prune to remove azalia caterpillars and galls
  8. Fall/early winter pruning can reduce winter hardiness
  9. Snap candles (new growth) in half when needles are 1/2 to 2/3 their normal mature length

Shrub Pruning Calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov DecComments
Abelia** x x x x x x x x * * 1,4
Almond, Flowering x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Arborvitae * * * - - * * x x x * * 6
Aucuba x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Azalea, Deciduous x x x x * * * x x x x x 2
Azalea, Evergreen x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,7
Barberry, Decidudous x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Barberry, Evergreen x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Bayberry x x * * * * x x x x x x  
Beautyberry * * * x x x x x x x * * 1,7
Beautybush
Kolkwitzia 		x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,4
Boxwood * * * * * * * x x x * * 5
Broom (Cytisus) x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Butterfly-bush * * * x x x x x x x * * 1
Camellia, Japanese x x x * * * x x x x x x 2
Camellia, Sasanqua x x * * * x x x x x x x 1
Chastetree (Vitex) * * * x x x x x x x x x 1
Cherrylaurel (Prunus) * * * * * * * x x x * * 5
Clethra, Summersweet * * * x x x x x x x * * 1
Cotoneaster, Deciduous * * x x x x x x x x * * 3
Cotoneaster, Evergreen * * x x x x x x x x * * 3
Crape Myrtle * * * x x x - - - x x x 1,8
Daphne
Fragrant or Winter 		x x x * * * * x x x x x 2
Deutzia x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,4
Dogwood, Redtwig * * * x x x x x x x * * 1,4
Eleagnus, Thorny * * * * * * * x x x * *  
Euonymus, Deciduous * * * x x x x x x x * *  
Euonymus, Evergreen * * * * * * * x x x * * 5
Forsythia x x x * * * * x x x x x 2,4
Fothergilla x x x x * * * x x x x x 2
Gardenia * * x x x x x x x x * * 1
Harry Lauder's
Walking Stick 		x x x x * * * x x x x x 2
Hibiscus,
Rose of Sharon,
Althea 		* * * x x x x x x x * * 1
Holly, Deciduous * * x x x x x x x x x * 1
Holly, Evergreen x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,5
Honeysuckle x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4,5
Hydrangea, Spring-blooming x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Hydrangea, Summer blooming * * * x x x x x x x * * 1
Hypericum, St. Johnswort * * * x x x x x x x x x 1
Indian Hawthorn
(Raphiolepis) 		x x x x * * * x x x x x 2
Jasmine, Winter x x x * * * * x x x x x 2
Juniper * * * - - - - x x x * * 6
Kerria (Globeflower) x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,4
Leucothoe x x x x x * * x x x x x 4
Lilac x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,4
Mahonia
Oregon Grapeholly 		x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Mockorange x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,4
Mountain-laurel
(Kalmia) 		x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Nandina * * * x x x x x x x x x 1,4
Osmanthus, Holly * * - - - * x x x x * * 1,5
Pearlbush x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Photinia * * - - * * * x x x * * 5
Pieris x x x x * * * x x x x x 2
Pine, Mugo * x x * * * x x x x x * 9
Pittosporum x * * * * x x x x x x x  
Privet, Deciduous
(Ligustrum) 		* * * * * * * x x x * * 5
Privet, Evergreen
(Ligustrum) 		* * * * * * * x x x * * 5
Potentilla * * * x x x x x x * * * 1,4
Pyracantha x x x x x * * x x x x x 2,3
Quince x x x * * * * x x x x x 2,4
Rododendron x x x x x * * x x x x x 2
Rose x * * x x x * * x x x x 1,3,4
Serviceberry x x x * * * x x x x x x  
Smoke Tree * * x x x x x x x x * * 1
Spirea
Spring-blooming 		x x x x * * x x x x x x 2
Spirea
Summer-blooming 		* * x x x x x x x x x x 1
Sumac * * * x x x x * * * * * 1,4
Sweetshrub,
Carolina Allspice 		x x x x x x * * x x x x 1
Viburnum,
Deciduous 		x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Viburnum,
Evergreen 		x x x x * * x x x x x x 2
Weigela x x x x * * * x x x x x 2,4
Willow, Pussy x x x * * * * x x x x x 2
Witchhazel x x x * * * * x x x x x 2
Yew * * * - * * * x x x * * 5

Exceptions

  1. Timing varies across USDA climate zones - zones within Virginia range from 8a in the Virginia Beach area to 5b along the West Virginia border
  2. Prune anytime to correct vandalism and hazards created by equipment or weather
  3. Hedges maintained formally (tight shapes) require more pruning than hedges maintained informally (in their natural form)

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