We have been fielding a lot of calls last week in regards to pruning shrubs. People have been getting out in the warm weather anxious to begin another season of gardening. Spring is an excellent time for pruning some shrubs, but before you run out with your clippers and start hacking away you need to know some of the very basic rules to pruning.

 
1.  Always start with properly cleaned and sharpened pruners.

2.  Never prune any spring flowering shrubs (i.e. forsythia) before they flower. This results in a definite loss of a show in flowers. 

3.  Always prune away any broken branches and dead wood

4.  Pruning early allows the new wounds on the branches time to heal before pests are out.

5.  Plants that do best being pruned early in spring are those which produce flower buds on the new growth this year. These are usually ones that bloom later in the season (July/August)

6.  Early spring is an excellent time to prune fruit trees as dormant pruning produces new growth. Be sure to apply a dormant oil spray after pruning to reduce the risk of overwintering pests and fungus.

7.  Early spring pruning is the best time to prune for shape and/or removing any old wood as the leaves have not yet come out.