Shrubs and bushes create attractive barriers, prevent erosion, and host birds and pollinators.
With those strengths, it’s often easy to think ofbushes and shrubsas self-maintaining.
But they need regular trimming to keep them healthy and in good shape.
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Learn the best time to trim bushes, why you should trim them, and how to do so.
Trim flowering bushes in early spring.
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The dormant season varies by region.
Generally, it is from late winter to early spring.
Let the flowers bloom, then trim the plants just after they have fully flowered.
Trimming dead materials will not affect the rest of the plant.
Trim damaged and diseased sections at any time of the year, too.
When Not to Trim Shrubs and Bushes
Avoid trimming deciduous bushes and shrubs in late summer.
Doing so may cause the plant to start new growth that won’t be sufficiently hardened before winter.
New growth is susceptible to freezing and frost damage and may die off.
Trimming bushes in the fall should also be avoided since this spurs new growth.
Trimming Tip
Manual one-hand bypass pruners operate like scissors.
With sharp blades, they are essential for trimming shrubs.
We tested a range of options to bring you thebest bypass prunersto buy.
Shaping the shrub, while important, should be one of the last steps.
The best month will generally be around the end of your area’s dormant season.
For non-flowering deciduous shrubs, this is usually February or March.
You should trim bushes in the late winter to early spring.
Trimming in the fall risks killing off new growth when freezing temperatures occur.
Do not trim bushes in mid- to late summer.
Trimming bushes during this period (August and September) may stress and damage the plant.
The Basics of Pruning Trees and Shrubs.
Trim trees, shrubs in the dormant season for stronger, healthier plants.
University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences.
Pruning trees and shrubs.
University of Minnesota Extension.
When should I prune spring-flowering deciduous shrubs?Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
