Pruning is a common garden task and proper pruning is important.
Many gardeners have questions regarding the pruning of trees, shrubs, fruits, vines, and other woody plants.
Get answers to your pruning frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.
When to Prune | Tips & Techniques | Pruning Fruit
When to Prune
Trees | Shrubs | Fruit | Roses
Trees
- When is the best time to prune shade trees? | Short answer: February and March
- When is the best time to prune oak trees? | Short answer: December through February
Shrubs
- When should I prune my shrubs? | Short answer: It depends on the type of shrub
- When should I prune spring-flowering deciduous shrubs? | Short answer: Immediately after flowering
- When is the best time to prune forsythias? | Short answer: Immediately after flowering
- When should I prune my weigela? | Short answer: Lightly in early spring and again (if needed) after bloom
- When should I prune summer-flowering deciduous shrubs? | Short answer: March and early April
- When would be the best time to prune potentillas? | Short answer: March and early April
- When should I prune “non-flowering” deciduous shrubs? | Short answer: February and March
- When should I prune evergreen shrubs? | Short answer: Early Spring and (if needed) mid-summer
Fruit
- When should I prune my fruit trees? | Short answer: Late February through early April
- When is the best time to prune grapevines? | Short answer: Late February through early April
Roses
- When should I prune hybrid tea roses in spring? | Short answer: Late March to mid-April
- When should I prune shrub roses? | Short answer: Just as new growth begins in early to mid-April
Pruning Tips and Techniques
Trees | Shrubs | Vines | Roses
Trees
- What type of equipment do I need to prune trees and shrubs? | Short answer: Hand shears, lopping shears, and a pruning saw
- What is the proper way to prune a large tree branch? | Short answer: Use the 3-cut method
- Where should the pruning cut be made when removing a branch? | Short answer: Just beyond the branch collar and branch bark ridge
- When pruning trees, is it desirable to make flush cuts? | Short answer: Never
- Is it advisable to paint pruning wounds when pruning trees? | Short answer: No
- How should I prune a newly planted tree? | Short answer: Pruning when young is very important. Remove structural defects and retain lower branches as long as possible
- Sap is flowing from a pruning cut on my maple tree. Should I be concerned? | Short answer: No
- Sap is oozing out of an old pruning cut on my tree. Is this a serious problem? | Short answer: It could be wetwood or slime flux. There is no way to cure it, but it doesn’t kill the tree
Shrubs
- What is the best way to prune large, overgrown shrubs? | Short answer: Two options: Rejuvenation pruning over 3 years or Renovation pruning
- What type of equipment do I need to prune trees and shrubs? | Short answer: Hand shears, lopping shears, and a pruning saw
- My potentillas have gotten scraggly. What is the best way to prune them? | Short answer: Prune to within 3 to 4 inches of the ground in late winter/early spring
Vines
- How should I prune my clematis vines? | Short answer: It depends on the type of clematis
- How do I prune trumpet vine? | Short answer: Prune regularly in late winter/early spring
Roses
- How should I prune hybrid tea roses in spring? | Short answer: Focus on removing dead wood from winter die-back
- How should I prune shrub roses? | Short answer: Remove winter die-back first, then prune stems back to outward facing buds
- Should I prune my rose back in the fall? | Short answer: No
Pruning Fruit
Apple & Other Tree Fruits | Grapes | Raspberries | Other Small Fruits
Apple
- When should I prune my fruit trees? | Short answer: Late February through early April
- What is the proper way to prune a large tree branch? | Short answer: Use the 3-cut method
- Where should the pruning cut be made when removing a branch? | Short answer: Just beyond the branch collar and branch bark ridge
- When pruning trees, is it desirable to make flush cuts? | Short answer: Never
- Is it advisable to paint pruning wounds when pruning trees? | Short answer: No
Grapes
- Why is it necessary to prune grapevines? | Short answer: To obtain better yields
- What is the proper way to prune grapevines? | Short answer: Utilize the four-cane Kniffin system
- What type of pruning equipment is needed to prune grapevines? | Short answer: Hand shears, lopping shears, and saw
- When is the best time to prune grapevines? | Short answer: Late February through early April
- I planted several grapevines last year. How should they be pruned this spring? | Short answer: Begin training method by year two
Raspberries
- What is the proper way to prune summer-bearing red raspberries? | Short answer: Remove all weak, diseased, and damaged canes at ground level in early spring
- What is the proper way to prune fall-bearing red raspberries? | Short answer: Two options: Remove weak canes in early spring; Prune all canes back to the ground in early spring
- What is the proper way to prune yellow raspberries? | Short answer: It depends on whether they are summer- or fall-bearing
- What is the proper way to prune black raspberries? | Short answer: Remove all weak, diseased, and damaged canes at ground level in early spring
- Can I prune my red raspberries back to the ground in late fall? | Short answer: For fall-bearing types, it’s an option if you choose; For summer-bearing types, no
- How can I tell dead canes from live shoots when pruning raspberries in late winter? | Short answer: Dead canes are white to gray; live canes are brown to purple in color
Other Fruits
- What is the proper way to prune blueberries? | Short answer: Remove stems older than 5 years each spring
- How should I prune my gooseberries? | Short answer: Remove stems older than 4 years each spring