If you’ve been in the gardening game for a while now, you’ll know that pruning is an integral part of plant care.

Your plants need to be trimmed down from time to time to be able to grow better and healthier; that’s just how it works. 

However, many people are often unsure about the best time to prune; my answer is that it varies for each plant.

While some plants love a good cold-weather trim, others may suffer from fungal diseases and stress if pruned in low temperatures. 

Cutting or trimming hydrangea

Since February is coming up, here are 9 plants that benefit most from pruning in February: 

Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea Paniculata sort Limelight

Since February typically falls between late winter and early spring, it’s a good time to prune your hydrangeas.

These vibrant flowering plants benefit from pruning right before new growth begins, leading to better, stronger growth on new stems later on. 

Learn here the best way to prune hydrangeas for amazing blooms!

Rose bush blooms
Roses

Most rose varieties benefit from February pruning as long as the climate is on the milder side.

Like hydrangeas, pruning around this time encourages new growth later on and gets bad/damaged wood out of the way for the growth to take place effectively.

I explain here how to prune roses for amazing blooms.

Hibiscus
Hibiscus

February is considered to be the best pruning time for hibiscus because that’s generally when the plant will be exiting dormancy and transitioning towards newer growth.

Pruning will allow for better air circulation around the plant, preventing new growth from facing issues like fungal infections and blocked sunlight. 

Blueberries
Blueberries

Shifting focus from flowers to fruiting plants, berry bushes also benefit from pruning in February, as it’s usually their dormant period.

Pruning around this time will improve overall crop health which has a direct impact on yield.  

Grape Vines
Grape Vines

Pruning grape vines in February is a good idea since you’ll be removing weak growth and dead foliage which will have a direct positive effect on your fruit clusters.

You’ll also find that after pruning, your grape vines become a lot tidier and more manageable

Orange tree
Orange tree

Citrus plants like oranges, lemons, and limes all love a February trim!

As the weather warms up, they’ll grow stronger and more vigorously, thanks to the improved airflow and lowered stress after the removal of weak or damaged stems.

Kale
Kale

If you reside in a milder climate zone and are growing kale in your garden, February is a good time to give your leafy green a trim.

Remove any leaves that have been damaged or destroyed during the harsh winter and give the plant a healthy, fresh start. 

Spinach
Spinach

Another leafy green that benefits from cold-weather pruning is spinach.

Yes, the ultimate forearm gains food. (It’s a Popeye reference for all you Gen Z folks) Because spinach leaves can bolt and become discolored quickly, removing them before new growth begins is a smart idea. 

Cherry tree

Yes, I know, cherry plants are not really plants but actually trees. But, if you’re growing them in pots or containers, they will definitely need to be pruned.

Cherry trees can be trimmed during February since the plant will be dormant and able to recover from the stress of pruning quick and effectively.  

Just make sure the weather remains mild and not extremely cold as pruning in extremely low temperatures will most definitely put the health and longevity of your cherry plants at risk. 

As cold as the month of February can be, there are still some plants that can benefit from a good trim.

If you’ve got some free time this month, tackling pruning tasks on any of the plants mentioned above will promote healthier, more vigorous growth and lead to significantly better fruit yields. 

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