It's February - Let The Pruning Begin
(well at least some of it)
Several years ago I was working on a fine Sunday, one of those rare winter days when it was both sunny and in the 60's. I received a call from a woman, frantic because her husband was heading to the shed to get the clippers. She said that he was determined to prune something (football season being over by this point), and wanted me to tell her what he could cut without damage. His instincts were right, because February, particularly late in the month, is prime time to prune. She was right to be concerned because there are things that should be left alone until later. Since this can be one of the most confusing topics in the garden, I thought a few very general guidelines would be in order.
Most plants that bloom in the late spring or summer flower on new growth, this means that they should be pruned in late winter. The more new growth a plant has, the more flowers there will be. This applies to plants like roses, butterfly bushes, altheas, oleanders and some spireas. Plants that bloom in late winter to mid-spring typically bloom on old growth, so if you prune before they bloom you will unwittingly cut off flowers. Many of our classic spring plants fall into this category including azaleas, camellias, forsythia, quince and others. Once these plants have bloomed you have about six weeks to get any pruning done before flower tissue begins forming for next year's show.
Broadleaf evergreens that don't flower, particularly many of our hedge and foundation shrubs, can be pruned anytime between Christmas and Labor Day. However, now is one of the best times because the plants are getting ready to begin again anyway and when you prune you stimulate new growth. So you get more results for less effort by pruning in late February or early March. Plants that respond to this type of pruning include hollies, ligustrum, wax myrtle, euonymus and others.
If you have not done so already, you can go ahead and cut back any perennials that have turned brown, and really this can be done in the fall once their color has changed. There are a few exceptions to this rule, particularly lantana, certain salvias and anything else that does not like a cold climate. By now all of the ornamental grasses are ready to be cut down as well. If you don't do it now, the new spring growth will begin to come up through last year's brown blades and it will be difficult to get rid of the old without damaging the new. The same holds true for the common groundcover, liriope.
With these guidelines you should be able to keep yourself or any other determined pruner busy. However, there are many footnotes, asides and exceptions to these basic rules. If you would like to learn more we have a "Pruning Cheat Sheet" available at the garden center, plus I will be teaching two classes on the topic this winter. Look in our calendar section for times and registration. Maybe I will see you then, but please keep in mind that mediating marital disagreements is not in my job description.
(I know the pictures don't entirely match the topic, but isn't it fun when a pruning obsession becomes art?)
Les Parks
