Seasonal Plant Pruning Guide

 

This is just a quick reference guide to help you know when to prune certain flowers, shrubs and trees. This guide is not exhaustive, please double check all recommendations for your region. Pruning in general requires good sharp shears (I like the Felco F2) and some basic knowledge:

• Remove dead or diseased branches first.

• Prune crossing branches that rub against each other.

• Improve airflow by removing crowded branches from the center of the plant.

• Avoid removing too much at once — generally, don't remove more than 1/3 of a plant in one year unless the plant can tolerate hard pruning (like azaleas, rhododendrons, quince, or mock orange).

• Avoid heavy pruning during extreme heat or drought when plants are already stressed.

• Disinfect tools between plants when working with diseased material.

• Dispose of diseased plant material in the garbage rather than composting it to prevent disease spread.

*Please note the first guide is general, and the second guide is specific to the plants that are common in the Oregon coastal region, where I currently live and offer garden services.