When is the right time to prune a flowering shrub?
Spring bloomers right after flowering, summer bloomers in late winter. How to tell which kind of shrub you have.
Start here
It depends on when the shrub flowers. Spring bloomers should be pruned right after their flowers fade. Summer bloomers can be pruned in late winter or early spring.
Old wood versus new wood
Spring-flowering shrubs form their buds on last year’s stems. Cut them in winter and you remove this year’s flowers. Summer-flowering shrubs bloom on stems that grow this season, so a late-winter cut just encourages more flowering growth.
How to tell
- Did it flower before early summer? Treat it as a spring bloomer.
- Did it flower from midsummer on? Treat it as a summer bloomer.
- Not sure? Watch it for one season before making any big cuts.
Some common shrubs
Lilac and forsythia are classic spring bloomers. Many hydrangeas are tricky: some bloom on old wood, some on new. Check the variety before cutting hydrangeas hard.
If you’ve already pruned at the wrong time, don’t panic. You’ll lose a season of flowers, not the plant. See the full shrub section of the guide.
When and how to prune shrubs, roses and fruit trees at home