Nine Plant Species that Typically Require Pruning During Wintertime
Nine Plant Species that Typically Require Pruning During Wintertime
When winter rolls around, it's natural to take a break from daily gardening tasks due to less than ideal weather conditions. Yet, the allure of the garden is hard to resist, and you might find yourself wondering what you can do. The solution? Prune your plants. It's a crucial task – even when the cold weather is harsh. So don't forget to put on some warm gloves and grab your pruning shears because the gardening season isn't over just yet!
- Doug Still, certified arborist and host of the "This Old Tree" podcast
- Lorraine Ballato, garden and hydrangea expert and award-winning author of "Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide"
01of 09## Apple Trees
Fruit trees benefit from pruning, and it's best to do it during winter when the tree is inactive. "Winter pruning maximizes the annual energy cycle, promoting new shoot growth in spring," says arborist Doug Still. "Pruning in summer removes nutrients and carbohydrates before the tree can use them, which is detrimental for productive fruit trees."
He emphasizes that since apples (Malus spp.), especially being a fall harvest, pruning them in winter is the most logical choice. "Lastly, most insects and pathogens are dormant in winter, so cuts are less likely to attract pests," he adds.
02of 09## Tri-Color Dappled Willow
"Winter pruning can be beneficial to non-flowering woody plants that produce colorful foliage in spring," says Ballato. "One example is the tri-color dappled willow (Salix integra, or '*Hakuro-Nishiki'). It thrives on neglect, isn't fussy about soil, and can be a fantastic display when grown in groupings [or] as a border."
03of 09## Early Amethyst
The ornamental berries of Callicarpa dichotoma are breathtaking, and are arranged in bundles along the stems of the shrub. "Any shrub that flowers on 'n wood' is a candidate for winter cutting," says Ballato. She advises to be careful about pruning too much prior to winter, but in southern regions, winter pruning can be quite helpful.
04of 09## Oak Tree
If that majestic oak tree (Quercus) in your lawn is starting to grow out of control, and its low-hanging branches are getting in the way, then winter is a great time to prune. It's also an easier time for beginners, who might appreciate the lack of leaves at this time of year.
"One small advantage to pruning maple and oak trees in winter is that their structure is easily visible and understood," says Still. "However, most trained arborists can assess the tree's structural problems regardless of season."
05of 09## Maple Tree
Like oaks, a lack of leaves can help a beginner properly evaluate a maple tree when pruning. Otherwise, you can prune almost any time of year – as long as you don't overdo it. "Don't prune sugar maple and red maple trees in mid-spring to avoid excessive sap flow from pruning cuts," says Still.
06of 09## Rose
While it will depend on the specific rose variety, many Rosa family members perform best with late-season winter pruning – shortly before the growing season begins. It's a fantastic time to shape the bush into the size that fits your landscaping, plus, you can identify and remove any diseased or damaged stems.
07of 09## Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica is a beautiful, colorful shrub – much like lilac – that can be easily shaped into a simple hedge or even a small tree. As with roses, pruning crape myrtle should be done quite late in the winter. The goal is twofold: to protect the shrub from sending out new shoots from the pruning site during an unexpected warm spell, and to prevent cold temperatures from damaging the pruning sites.
08of 09## Blueberry
Your blueberry bushes provide a delightful summertime treat, and the shrub-like foliage isn't unattractive either. To keep those fruits coming, you'll likely want to prune back your bushes to some extent each year. Doing so not only keeps them from becoming overcrowded and developing awkward shapes, but also encourages robust new growth. Winter or early spring, when the bush is still dormant, is precisely the right time.
09of 09## Dogwood
Dogwoods are small trees with stunning blossoms, and the similar red twig dogwood is a shrub variety with scarlet bark. You can keep these charming plants largely unchanged for most of the winter to add color to your garden, but in both cases, late winter is the prime time for pruning back.
This timing is ideal because the sap isn't running then – an important factor, since dogwoods tend to release a lot when pruned. In the winter, when the plant is dormant, they're much less likely to "bleed."
After learning about the importance of pruning during winter from arborist Doug Still, you might be interested in reading 'Home Garden News' for more tips. MarthaStewart's Gardening section often features articles on landscaping and gardening techniques, including winter pruning strategies. For example, Lorraine Ballato, a garden and hydrangea expert, suggests winter pruning for non-flowering woody plants that produce colorful foliage in spring, such as the tri-color dappled willow. The 'Landscaping' section of 'Home Garden News' would likely provide detailed information on how and when to prune various trees and shrubs, like the oak and maple trees mentioned in this article.