Are you trying to grow strong and healthy shrubs? Well, pruning may be a good way to get them there.
In this article, we’re going to discuss shrubs that need hard pruning before spring begins. And, since spring is right around the corner, it’s time you get your pruning shears out and put them to work.
Shrubs That Need Pruning Before Spring Arrives
1 – Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Butterfly bush, also known as buddleia, is a shrub that grows rapidly and produces long, corn-like vibrant flowers. Many know butterfly bushes to be natural pollinator attractors that invite bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden.
Ideally, you should be cutting back 12-18 inches of this shrub to promote strong summer blooms.
2 – Crape Myrtle
With shrubs like crape myrtle, the problem can be that their branches become too dense and overlap. Although this may give the shrub a rough, mystic look, it’s definitely not the safest for the plant as it may suffer from suffocation. Overgrown branches can even increase the likelihood of fungal disease.
To keep your crape myrtle shrub safe and healthy, remove weak and crossing branches before spring to allow for better flowering.
3 – Roses (Hybrid Tea & Floribunda)
For those of you who didn’t know, roses also grow on shrubs. If the shrub is allowed to become too dense, air circulation can be reduced and the chances of fungal infection increase exponentially. To counter this issue, prune your rose shrubs heavily before spring to shape and reduce deadwood.
Don’t know how to properly prune your roses? Check out our step-by-step rose pruning guide: How to Prune Roses.
4 – Russian Sage
Russian sage is a drought-tolerant shrub that produces thick foliage and vibrant purple and blue flowers. Many gardeners plant them in their gardens to give the space a fragrant smell since these shrubs offer quite an enchanting aroma. Before the arrival of spring, cut back your Russian sage 6-8 inches for fresh new growth.
5 – Hydrangea Paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)
Panicle hydrangeas are one of the most popular hydrangea varieties. They offer large, cone-shaped flowers either in white or pink color. Ideally, this hydrangea variety should be pruned in late winter if you’re looking to get the best summer blooms.
Keep in mind, however, that different hydrangea varieties have different pruning requirements. Do not treat them all the same!
Don’t know how to properly prune your hydrangeas? Check out our step-by-step hydrangea pruning guide: How to Prune Hydrangeas.
6 – Spirea (Summer-Blooming Varieties)
Spirea and its summer-blooming varieties not only offer unique, eye-catching foliage but also colorful flower clusters in crimson, pink, and white color. This shrub needs to be pruned heavily before the coming of spring to promote fresh and compact growth.
7 – Bluebeard (Caryopteris)
As the name suggests, Bluebeard shrubs offer small blue and purple flowers that draw in pollinators to the garden. The shrub is also quite fragrant and can fill your garden space with a sweet, floral aroma that lingers around for a long time. In late winter or early spring, cut back this shrub to near ground level for stronger branching.
8 – Cinquefoils (Potentilla)
If you’ve never seen potentilla flowers, you’re definitely missing out! They’re soft, vibrant, and almost velvety. The shrub can grow quite dense, limiting air circulation and making the plant look untidy. Therefore, it’s important to cut down one-third of old stems for healthier shrub growth.
9 – Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis)
As strange as the name sounds, elderberry is actually quite a popular berry variety. The elderberry shrub offers rich, tart berries as well as white flower clusters that give the garden an interesting look. When spring comes around, this shrub needs to be pruned aggressively in order to push it towards rejuvenation and fresh, new growth.
Conclusion
For many plants and shrubs, late winter and early spring is the ideal pruning time. As much as I love pruning, I think one needs to prune with some basic understanding of when certain plants need it most. The plants we discussed above benefit greatly from being pruned before spring arrives.
Make sure you don’t delay the pruning though as many shrubs won’t appreciate being vulnerable in the heat.
Should forsythia be pruned now, as well?
Hi Jeanne! Forsythia should only be pruned right after it finishes blooming in spring. 🌿 If you prune it now, you’ll cut off this year’s flower buds. Wait until after flowering, then trim to shape and remove any dead or overgrown branches. Hope that helps! 😊✨
Should lilac be pruned or not ? We have 2 bushes and they never bloom, and have never been pruned.
Hi! Yes, lilacs should be pruned! 😊 Since they bloom on old wood, pruning at the wrong time can prevent flowers.
Prune right after they bloom in spring (or would have bloomed) to encourage growth for next year, remove dead or weak branches to improve air circulation. If they’ve never bloomed, they might not be getting enough sun,lilacs need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to produce flowers. 🌸
Try a light pruning this year, and hopefully, you’ll see blooms next spring! 😊✨
I have learned so much from your articles. Thank you so much.
Hi Dorothy! That means so much, thank you! 😊🌿 I’m so glad you’ve found the articles helpful. Happy gardening! ✨
Hi Rita,
Wondering about propagating blueberries. My bushes have grown however 1 died this past fall and I would like to plant some more. Wondering if I can grow some from the plants that I have?
Hi Amy! Hi! 😊 Yes, you can propagate blueberries from your existing plants! The best methods are softwood cuttings (late spring to early summer) or hardwood cuttings (late winter).
For softwood cuttings: Take a 4-6 inch cutting from new growth, remove lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and plant in moist soil.
For hardwood cuttings: Use a 6-8 inch cutting from dormant wood in winter and plant it in sandy soil to root over time.
It takes patience, but it’s a great way to expand your blueberry patch! 😊🫐 Let me know if you need more tips!
When is best time to prune double
blooming azalea?
Thx!
Hi Sheryl! The best time to prune double-blooming azaleas is right after their first bloom in spring before they start setting buds for the next season. Avoid pruning in late summer or fall, or you’ll cut off next year’s flowers. Hope that helps! 😊🌸✨
When to trim knockout roses?
Hi Liz!😊 Knockout roses should be pruned in late winter to early spring, just before new growth starts. Trim them back by ⅓ to ½ of their size to encourage fresh blooms and maintain shape. You can also deadhead spent flowers throughout the season to keep them blooming! 🌹✨
My knockout rose bushes already have buds. Since I didn’t cut them down should I just hold off until next spring?
Hi Lisa! 😊 If your Knockout roses already have buds, it’s best to leave them be for now and enjoy the blooms! 🌹 You can lightly shape them after the first flush of flowers, but save any major pruning for late winter next year, before new growth starts. They’re tough plants. You’re doing just fine! 😊✨
I saw your picture of the crepe Myrtle. EVERYWHERE I have read says not to prune it like that. You should not top prune it straight across just prune pencil like branches and those cros over. Other brancHES
I CONTEMPLATED CUTTNG THE TOPS TO KEEP IT A CERTAIN HEIGHT BUT ALL ARTICLES SAY NO
AM I CORRECT
Hi Linda! 😊 You’re absolutely right! Crepe myrtles should never be topped. This is often called “crepe murder” because it weakens the tree and leads to unattractive, weak growth. Instead, pruning should focus on:
✂️ Removing crossing, dead, or weak branches.
🌿 Thinning out crowded areas to improve airflow.
📏 Shaping naturally rather than cutting straight across.
If you want to control height, selective pruning of the tallest branches (back to a natural fork) is better than topping. Sounds like you’ve done your research! 😊🌳
Hello, I have 3 different hydrangeas. I get very few flowers on them. I have trimmed them in the spring no changes. I trimmed them in the winter no changes.
I have lived in my house for 20 years. Any advice?
Hi Beverly! 😊 If your hydrangeas aren’t blooming much, it could be due to when and how you’re pruning, especially if they’re types that bloom on old wood like bigleaf or oakleaf hydrangeas. Pruning in winter or early spring can remove the flower buds before they bloom.
Here are a few tips:
🌿 Identify the type – Bigleaf and oakleaf bloom on old wood (prune right after they flower), while panicle and smooth bloom on new wood (prune in late winter or early spring).
☀️ Check sunlight – They need at least 4–6 hours of light to bloom well.
🌱 Fertilizer – Too much nitrogen = leafy growth, but fewer blooms. Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in spring to promote flowers.
Let me know what varieties you have, and I’d be happy to help more! 🌸✨
I have an ornament cherry tree…last year I noticed a fungus(black knot).
I cut off all branches that had it on…tree looked kinda bad, but grew out of last summer
Do I need to do anything this spring?
Hi Connie! Yes! Black knot can be persistent. So here’s what to do this spring:
🌿 Check for any new infections: Look for fresh black growths and prune them at least 6-8 inches below the infected area.
✂️ Sanitize your pruners: Wipe them with rubbing alcohol between cuts to prevent spreading.
🦠 Apply a fungicide: A lime sulfur or copper-based spray in early spring (before buds break) can help prevent reinfection.
🍃 Improve airflow: Keep the tree well-pruned to reduce moisture buildup, which encourages fungus.
It’s great that you caught it early. Stay on top of it, and your tree should keep thriving! 😊🌳✨
Picture number 4 is not Russian Sage. I believe it is mealycup Sage or blue salvia.
Hi Judy! You’re absolutely right! 😊 That was Mealycup Sage (Blue Salvia), not Russian Sage. I just fixed it. Thanks for catching that! 🌿✨
When should I prune false indigo? When can it be transplanted?
How do I feed it?
Hi Ellen! False indigo (Baptisia) is low-maintenance but benefits from occasional pruning and care! 😊
✂️ Prune – Cut back in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. If it’s too large, you can lightly shape it after blooming.
🌱 Transplant – Best done in early spring or fall, but be careful. False indigo has deep roots and doesn’t like being moved. Dig deep and water well after transplanting.
🌿 Feed – It doesn’t need much fertilizer but benefits from a light layer of compost or a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Hope this helps! 😊✨
I have multiple baptisia plants in my yard and die back to the ground every winter so I’m not sure why they would need to be pruned?
Hi Mike!😊 Baptisia naturally dies back to the ground in winter, so in most cases, pruning just means removing the dead stems in early spring before new growth appears. Hard pruning isn’t usually needed unless you want to tidy up the plant or control its size after it blooms. Sounds like your plants are doing just what they should! 🌿✨
Purple Glory bushes seem to die every year and then sprout new growth from the base. Should they be hard pruned in early spring? How far back?
Hi Mark! Yes! 😊 If your Purple Glory bushes (also known as Glory Bush or Tibouchina) die back each winter and sprout from the base, it’s best to hard prune them in early spring.
✂️ Cut back all the dead stems to the lowest healthy growth or just a few inches above the ground if they die back completely. This helps encourage strong, bushy new growth and better blooming through the season.
You’re doing the right thing by waiting for that fresh spring growth. Happy pruning! 💜✨