Legend:

@ = Appropriate time to prune + = Do not prune unless you are correcting damage, hazards, or defects * = Can be pruned at any time or pruning time is not an issue for this plant  

More Info:

  1. Blooms are formed on new (current season) wood
  2. Blooms are produced on previous season's wood. Pruning while dormant will lessen bloom production
  3. Prune below diseased wood. Snips should be disinfected between cuts
  4. Prune old stems to ground yearly
  5. Prune midseason for a formal hedge
  6. Do not prune old wood that is without leaves
  7. Prune during spring/summer to remove azalea caterpillars
  8. Pruning during the fall and early winter can diminish winter hardiness
  9. Break new growth in half when needles are 1/2 to 2/3 their normal mature length
 
Jan Feb March Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec More Info
Abelia @ @ + + + + + + + + @ @ 1,4
Arborvitae @ @ @ * * @ @ + + + @ @ 6
Aucuba + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2
Azalea, Deciduous + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2
Azalea, Evergreen + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,7
Barberry, Decidudous + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Barberry, Evergreen + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Beautyberry @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1,7
Boxwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5
Butterfly-bush @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1
Camellia, Japanese + + + @ @ @ + + + + + + 2
Camellia, Sasanqua + + @ @ @ + + + + + + + 1
Chastetree (Vitex) @ @ @ + + + + + + + + + 1
Cherrylaurel (Prunus) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5
Clethra, Summersweet @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1
Cotoneaster, Deciduous @ @ + + + + + + + + @ @ 3
Cotoneaster, Evergreen @ @ + + + + + + + + @ @ 3
Crape Myrtle @ @ @ + + + * * * + + + 1,8
Dogwood @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1,4
Eleagnus, Thorny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + + @ @
Euonymus, Deciduous @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @
Euonymus, Evergreen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5
Forsythia + + + @ @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Gardenia @ @ + + + + @ @ + + @ @ 1
Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, Althea @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1
Holly, Deciduous @ @ + + + + + + + + + @ 1
Holly, Evergreen + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2,5
Honeysuckle + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4,5
Hydrangea, Spring- blooming + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2
Hydrangea, Summer- blooming @ @ @ + + + + + + + @ @ 1
Hypericum, St. Johnswort @ @ @ + + + + + + + + + 1
Indian Hawthorn (Raphiolepis) + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2
Jasmine, Winter + + + @ @ @ @ + + + + + 2
Juniper @ @ @ * * * * + + + @ @ 6
Kerria (Globeflower) + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Leucothoe + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 4
Lilac + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Mahonia, Oregon Grapeholly + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Mockorange + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Mountain-laurel (Kalmia) + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2
Nandina @ @ @ + + + + + + + + + 1,4
Osmanthus, Holly @ @ * * * @ + + + + @ @ 1,5
Pearlbush + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2
Photinia @ @ * * @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5
Privet, Evergreen (Ligustrum) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5
Pyracantha + + + + + @ @ + + + + + 2,3
Quince + + + @ @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Rose + @ @ + + + @ @ + + + + 1,3,4
Serviceberry + + + @ @ @ + + + + + +
Smoke Tree @ @ + + + + + + + + @ @ 1
Spirea Spring- blooming + + + + @ @ + + + + + + 2
Spirea Summer- blooming @ @ + + + + + + + + + + 1
Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice + + + + + + @ @ + + + + 1
Viburnum, Deciduous + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Viburnum, Evergreen + + + + @ @ + + + + + + 2
Weigela + + + + @ @ @ + + + + + 2,4
Witchhazel + + + @ @ @ @ + + + + + 2
Yew @ @ @ * @ @ @ + + + @ @ 5