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Shrub Pruning Calendar
Use the following table to determine the right time to prune your shrubs.
Legend:
* = Best time to prune
x = Do not prune except to correct damage, hazards, or structural defects
Plant |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Notes |
Abelia |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Almond, Flowering |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Arborvitae |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
6,7 |
Azalea, Deciduous |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2 |
Azalea, Evergreen |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2
|
Barberry |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Beautybush Kolkwitzia |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Boxwood |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
5,6 |
Butterfly Bush |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Clethra |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Cotoneaster |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Crape Myrtle |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4,7 |
Deutzia |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Dogwood, Redtwig |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Elder |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Euonymus |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
|
Forsythia |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Fothergilla |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2 |
Holly, Deciduous |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Holly, Evergreen |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Honeysuckle |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Hydrangea, Spring Blooming |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X, |
2,4 |
Hydrangea, Summer Blooming |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Hypericum, St. Johnswort |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Itea |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Juniper |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
5,6 |
Kerria |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Lilac |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Mahonia |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4,7 |
Mockorange |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Nandina |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,7 |
Pine, Mugo |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
6,8 |
Privet, Ligustrum |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
2,4,5 |
Potentilla |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Prunus, Plum & Cherry |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Pyracantha |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2, |
Quince |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Rhodendron |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,7 |
Rose |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,3,4 |
Rose of Sharon |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Serviceberry |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2 |
Smoke Tree |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
Spirea, Spring Blooming |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Spirea, Summer Blooming |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Sweetshrub Carolina Allspice |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1,4 |
Spruce |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
6,7,8 |
Viburnum |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Weigela |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Willow, Pussy |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2,4 |
Witchhazel |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2 |
Yew |
X |
X |
X |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
X |
X |
X |
5,7 |
|