Your Complete Guide to Pruning Trees and Shrubs

February and March is the best time to prune most trees and shrubs in Iowa. The absence of foliage at this time of year gives you a clear view of the tree and allows the selection and removal of appropriate branches. Also, when pruned in the late dormant season the walling-off, compartmentalization, or sealing of wounds can begin as soon as growth starts in the spring giving the tree the most time to recover from the pruning cut.

Iowa State University has many resources available to help with pruning all your woody plants.

pruning shrubs — Proper Time to Prune Trees and Shrubs

pruning saw on tree — Guide to Pruning Equipment

Pruning Video — Principles of Pruning (videos)

Pruning Trees Pub — Pruning Trees: Shade, Flowering, and Conifer (pdf)

Topping Publication — Topping – Tree Care or Tree Abuse? (pdf)

newly planted tree — Pruning Young Trees

Pruning Shrubs Pub — Pruning Ornamental Shrubs (pdf)

Lilac Photo by jStock — Pruning Large, Overgrown Shrubs

formal hedge — How to Prune Formal Hedges

Pruning Fruit Trees Pub — Pruning and Training Fruit Trees (pdf)

Apples — How to Prune and Train Young Apple Trees

Large apple tree — How to Prune Neglected Apple Trees

Raspberry — How to Prune Raspberries in the Home Garden

Blackberry Photo by Igor Normann — How to Prune Blackberries in the Home Garden

Grapes — How to Prune Grapevines in the Home Garden

Last reviewed:

January 2023