Pruning can be beneficial to shrubs and serves to encourage new plant growth, clean out dead or diseased parts, and maintain a shrub’s shape or size. For many a shrub, late winter is an ideal time for pruning. With February upon us, now is a good time to trim back quite a few of the shrubs that you may have in your yard. What’s important is to complete pruning before new growth starts in March. Read on to find out if your shrubs could benefit from pruning in February!
Shrubs that benefit from a pruning in late winter, i.e. February, start producing flowering buds in spring for a summer bloom. These bushes include some of the Carolina favorites: crape myrtle, hollies, box woods, and butterfly bushes.
Do not trim early bloomers like forsythia and azalea until after they have bloomed. These plants bloom on the previous year’s growth so if you prune them too early, you will cut off buds that will not regrow this blooming season. Keep strong young shoots and prune spent wood that has borne blossoms. Hydrangeas also flower on last year’s wood and should be pruned after they have bloomed.
In general, follow these pruning instructions. First, remove any dead or weak stems. Then trim back undesired growth above a bud or shoot that faces outward. Some overgrown bushes tolerate being cut to a few inches above the ground if need be. After pruning, apply an organic fertilizer and mulch. Now, enjoy watching your shrubs flourish with newfound vigor!
