How to Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs
Introduction
Spring-flowering shrubs give us beautiful blooms in the spring. To keep them looking their best and blooming year after year, they need to be pruned after they finish flowering. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prune spring-flowering shrubs.
Materials You’ll Need
- Pruning shears (secateurs)
- Long-handled loppers
- Garden saw (optional)
Step 1: Identify the Woody Stems
Spring-flowering shrubs produce their blooms on woody stems that grew the previous year. These stems will be thicker and browner than the new green stems.
Step 2: Cut Out the Woody Stems
Use your pruning shears to cut out all the woody stems that have flowered. Cut back to just above a vigorous green stem growing from low down on the plant.
Step 3: Prune Thick or Overgrown Stems
For thicker woody stems or overgrown shrubs, use long-handled loppers or a garden saw to cut through them.
Step 4: Leave the New Stems
The new green stems that you left behind will grow and produce flowers next spring.
Tips
- Prune your spring-flowering shrubs immediately after they finish blooming. This will give the new stems time to grow before winter.
- Don’t overprune. Only cut out the woody stems that have flowered.
- Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands.
By following these steps, you can keep your spring-flowering shrubs healthy and blooming beautifully for years to come.
