What to Prune in March: A Guide for Georgia Gardeners
As spring begins to take hold in Georgia, March is the perfect time to prepare your garden for the growing season. One of the most important tasks this month is pruning, which helps plants thrive by removing dead or diseased wood, improving airflow, and encouraging healthy new growth. But not everything should be pruned at the same time! Here’s a guide to what you should (and shouldn’t) prune in March.
Shrubs and Trees to Prune Now
1. Summer-Blooming Shrubs
If you have shrubs that bloom in summer—like butterfly bush (Buddleia), crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia), or abelia—now is the time to prune them. These plants bloom on new growth, so cutting them back in early spring encourages fresh, vigorous growth and a fuller display of flowers in the coming months.
2. Roses
Most roses, especially hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras, should be pruned in early March in Georgia. Trim out dead or weak stems, shape the plant, and cut back to outward-facing buds to promote an open, airy structure. Knock Out® roses, which are popular in many Georgia gardens, benefit from a good cutback in early spring to maintain their shape and size.
3. Fruit Trees
If you grow peaches, apples, pears, or plums, late winter to early spring is the best time to prune. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to allow more sunlight and air circulation into the tree’s canopy. This helps prevent disease and promotes better fruit production.
4. Ornamental Grasses and Perennials
Now is the time to cut back ornamental grasses like pampas grass and muhly grass to about 6-12 inches above the ground. Also, trim back dead foliage on perennials like lantana, salvia, and coneflowers to make room for fresh spring growth.
What NOT to Prune in March
1. Spring-Blooming Shrubs
Avoid pruning azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and forsythia right now, as they set their flower buds in the fall. If you prune too early, you’ll remove this year’s blooms. Wait until after they finish flowering before shaping them up.
2. Hydrangeas (Check the Variety!)
Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), including the popular mophead and lacecap varieties, bloom on old wood, so pruning in March could remove potential flowers. However, panicle (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens), like ‘Annabelle,’ bloom on new wood and can be pruned now.
Final Tips for Pruning in March
- Always use clean, sharp pruning tools to prevent disease spread.
- Make cuts at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud or branch junction.
- Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood first before shaping the plant.
- If unsure about a plant, research its blooming cycle before pruning.
By following these March pruning guidelines, you’ll set your garden up for a season of strong growth and beautiful blooms. Happy gardening!
You can learn more about technique and timing of pruning in the UGA Extension publication, Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscape. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B961&title=pruning-ornamental-plants-in-the-landscape
