It is time to get out the pruning shears and get your landscaping ready for the upcoming spring.

What to Prune

Most deciduous trees and shrubs should be pruned in late winter in climates where heavy frost are un-likely and early spring in c

older northern climates. Maples and Birch trees should be pruned after leaves fall off in the late Fall and Winter month. For early spring flowering t

rees (plums, rosebuds, etc) and shrubs, it is best to prune after flowering has finished. You will not harm the plant if you prune prior to flowering,

you will just lose some of the flowers on the branches your prune.

February is a good time to prune most roses before buds are opening if your rose bush blooms on new growth. If your rose bush blooms on last years canes, you should prune after flowering.  Pruning roses should be done when it is unlikely your climate will be experiencing hard frost. There are some more guidelines for pruning different types of roses (Hybrid Teas, Modern Shrub Roses, Climbers, etc). We will get into more depth on roses in another post but for now check out this link on pruning roses.

Pruning Tips

• Inspect trees and shrubs for winter storm damage, invasive limbs and unsightly shaped trees and shrubs. 
• Use sharp clean pruning shears to prune smaller branches and a hand or chain saw for larger branches. 
• Cut out any dead wood and wayward branches, shaping the tree or shrub into your desired look.
• Prune unwanted limbs and branches back to a main branch or “Y” section.  This will encourage new growth off of the more established branch.