When to prune trees and shrubs
The right time depends on two things: whether the plant flowers on last year's wood or this year's, and how close you are to spring. Type your town; the dates below are for Columbus, OH.
| Plant | Dates for Columbus, OH | Window | Flowers on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple trees | Feb 21 to Mar 28 | Late winter to very early spring while dormant, after the coldest weather and before buds swell | old wood |
| Cherry trees | Sweet cherries after harvest in summer; tart cherries in late winter like other stone fruit | old wood | |
| Citrus trees | Apr 18 to May 16 | After the risk of freezing has passed and just before the spring growth flush, well before summer heat | |
| Crape myrtles | Feb 21 to Mar 28 | Late winter while the plant is dormant, before new spring growth starts | new wood |
| Fig trees | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Late winter after the coldest weather, just before growth starts | both |
| Flowering dogwoods | Right after flowering, in late spring or early summer | old wood | |
| Flowering shrubs | Spring bloomers right after flowering; summer bloomers in late winter | both | |
| Fruit trees | Feb 21 to Apr 4 | Late winter, after the danger of hard freezes and before growth begins in spring | old wood |
| Hollies | Mar 7 to Apr 11 | Late winter just before spring growth, with light touch-ups after summer growth | old wood |
| Hydrangeas | Depends on the type: old-wood bloomers right after flowering, new-wood bloomers in late winter | both | |
| Japanese maples | Jun 13 to Aug 8 | Light pruning in summer once leaves are fully grown; save any major cuts for full dormancy | |
| Lilacs | Right after the flowers fade in late spring | old wood | |
| Magnolias | Right after flowering | old wood | |
| Maple trees | May 30 to Aug 8 | Late spring to summer after the leaves are fully grown; late winter also works if dripping sap does not bother you | |
| Oak trees | Dec 27 to Feb 21 | Midwinter while fully dormant, well before the spring risk period for oak wilt | |
| Peach trees | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | Late winter, as late as practical, from about mid-February to early March in the Southeast, close to bloom | old wood |
| Pear trees | Feb 21 to Mar 28 | Late winter while dormant, after the coldest weather and before growth starts | old wood |
| Plum trees | Mar 21 to May 2 | Late winter into early spring, from just before bloom to about two weeks after petals fall | old wood |
| Shade trees | Feb 7 to Mar 21 | Late winter while trees are dormant, before buds break |
Dates appear where the window is tied to the end of winter; the others follow flowering or the season.
The one rule that explains most of it
Shrubs and trees that flower in spring, such as lilacs, dogwoods, magnolias and most hydrangeas, form next year's flower buds during the summer before. Prune them right after they finish blooming, or you cut off next spring's flowers. Plants that flower in summer on new growth, such as crape myrtles and panicle hydrangeas, are pruned in late winter, before buds swell, and bloom the same year.
Fruit trees are pruned while dormant in late winter, after the worst cold has passed: fresh cuts in early winter make the wood around them less hardy. A few trees, such as maples, bleed sap if cut in late winter; the bleeding does not harm them, but many people prune them in summer instead.
Timing from university extension guides, listed on each species page. General timing for healthy plants; for large trees or work near power lines, hire a certified arborist. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020.