Winter Pruning 101: What You Need to Know

Posted on January 2nd, 2018

Believe it or not, winter is the best time of year to prune your plants. When partaking in this essential activity in the coldest season, it’s important to know that the wounds from winter pruning will heal quickly — without the threat of disease or insect infestation to your precious plant.

Here are some tips for the most successful pruning:

• It’s important to cut branches at the node: the point at which one branch or twig attaches to another.
• Always leave a small stub of about a ½”. Pruning too close to the trunk opens the plant up to insects and disease at a much later date and time.
• It’s crucial to remove dead or dying branches first.
• Look for crossed branches that rub or interfere with each other, and then remove the smaller branch.
• Please use sharp equipment that will give you a clean, smooth cut.
• Of course, it’s important to undercut large branches, whilst holding onto the branch. Please note: make the final cut from the top, which will prevent the bark from tearing apart.

When it comes to flowering shrubs, they’ll need to be pruned at certain times of the year — which will assure a good flowering display in the spring.  Yes, there is the possibility that you can prune them now —  but you’ll be cutting off the essential buds for the coming year; will affect the number of blooms for the coming year, too. It’s pertinent to know that you should prune flowering shrubs (such as Lilacs, Rhododendron, and Azaleas) after they flower; new buds for the following year will form in the fall.  When it comes to pruning Roses and Hydrangeas, the pruning will not affect this year’s flowering, as the buds will come from the new growth in the spring.

Turf Unlimited is a full-service lawn care provider, offering a wide variety of lawn care, fertilization, and pest and weed control services to the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area. For more information about our services call 888-649-9919 and schedule your free, in-home estimate today.