Weekend Gardening: Best Time to Prune is Now

February 16, 2013

Now until buds break is the best time to prune, according to the UF/IF Extension Service.

Why Prune?

  • Control plant size or form
  • Remove damage (mechanical, disease, etc.)
  • Prevent potential damage (overlapping branches, poor crotch angles, diseases, etc.
  • Stimulate new growth (rejuvenate old plants, fill bare areas, increase flowering, etc.)

When to prune:

  • Corrective pruning due to injury or dead tissue should be done as soon as evident.
  • Avoid pruning from August 15 until plants are dormant.
  • Most pruning should be done during the dormant season or immediately after flowering.

Rules of thumb –  The “May Rule”:

  • May defined if the plant blooms before May 1, prune immediately after flowering has ended (flowers produced on old wood or last year’s growth: Azaleas, Forsythia, etc.)
  • If the plant blooms after May 1, prune during the dormant season (flowers produced on new growth: Crape Myrtles, Lilac Chaste tree, etc.).
  • As with any rule there are exceptions: Oak leaf Hydrangea.

General rules of Pruning:Eddie Hand Pruners

  • Local in affect (usually within 6” of cut).
  • Cuts should be made ¼” above a bud or to a crotch (Lateral branch).
  • Cuts should be made at angles.

Pruning Equipment: (Make sure blades are sharp)

  • Hand Snips (for small branches)
  • Loppers (branches > 0.75” in diameter)
  • Pruning Saw (limbs > 1.5” in diameter)
  • Shears (for a more formal look)
  • Pruning Knife (for clean-up)

Safe Pruning Principles:

  • Keep equipment clean and in good repair.
  • Appropriate, properly fitted safety equipment for job (eye and ear protection, no loose fitting clothes, etc.)
  • Keep equipment within your control zone. Don’t over extend, know the limitations of your equipment and yourself.
  • Know your surroundings (overhead utilities, other workers, etc.).
  • Be able to identify Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and other skin irritants.

Quick Tips to Remember:

  • Pruning: Remove dead wood and seed pods annually during the dormant season.
  • Size control should be done by cultivar selection, not by pruning.
  • To promote a second set of flowers, prune away faded or spent flowers throughout the season.

Comments

2 Responses to “Weekend Gardening: Best Time to Prune is Now”

  1. Perry on February 16th, 2013 6:25 pm

    Just pruned my crape myrtles today. Here’s a question for the experts out there – is this a good time to transplant crape myrtles as well?

  2. puddin on February 16th, 2013 5:14 am

    Good info, thanks. Ive been wondering for years when to prune the crepe myrtle. Guess what Im doing next weekend… :-)

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News