As we head into fall and winter, it’s time to start thinking about pruning of your ornamental plants to improve their growth habits and flowering display next year. Before you get started, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.
One of the most critical components of pruning is timing. In theory, you can prune a plant at any time in order to remove damaged/dead plant parts, stop the spread of disease, or if the plant is causing problems around a structure. However, there are ideal windows of time for pruning that help maintain plant health and display throughout the next season. Improper timing of pruning can result in misshapen plants, reduced flowering, and increased damage from insects, disease, or the cold.
Evergreen plants and broadleaf shrubs should be pruned in late winter when they are dormant. Plants that flower on old wood and bloom early in the spring (before May) such as azalea, dogwood, redbud, rhododendron, and forsythia set their buds in the fall. Pruning these plants now or later in the winter risks eliminating or reducing their flower display next spring. Instead, you should wait to prune them until after they’re done blooming next spring. On the flip side, plants that flower on new growth in the summer (after May) such as crape myrtles, nandina, beautyberry, and some camellia can be pruned this fall or winter without impacting next season’s blooms. There are exceptions where plants do not follow this rule of thumb including oakleaf hydrangea and late-flowering azalea, so if in doubt, contact your local Extension office for advice.
When pruning, consider your overarching goals before making any cuts. Different pruning techniques can be used to accomplish different goals. Typically, I start by pruning dead or diseased wood by cutting it back to the main branch or trunk. For some plants, this is all the maintenance they need. Next, consider whether the plant needs to be shaped or thinned. Thinning is accomplished by cutting branches back to a main stem or trunk. This helps improve air flow and light into the plant’s interior, encourages interior growth for a fuller look, and reduces disease issues. Thinning a plant early in its life can help encourage compact, full growth and decrease the need for severe pruning in the future. Shaping can be used to maintain a certain style or shape, such as with a privacy hedge. A correctly shaped hedge should have a somewhat pyramidal shape with the narrowest part of the plant at the top and a wider base. Most hedge type plants will need to be shaped 3-5 times a year to maintain their appearance. In addition to thinning or shaping, consider cutting back “leggy” shoots and suckers to a lateral bud or branch to help encourage compact growth and flowering. If your plants are completely overgrown or having some health issues, renewal pruning is a great way to manage them. This means cutting the plants back 6-12 inches above ground level.
Each plant has specific needs when it comes to pruning, and the Extension Office is happy to provide information and guidance to you. If you need help determining what time to prune or what type of pruning is appropriate for you, let us know at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
