Pruning less of the plant but more frequently is by far the best for the overall health of it. We recommend every other month, which comes out to be five times per year. This is the sweet spot for pruning and will help keep everything looking and performing its best.
The General Pruning Timeline for Healthy Trees
But in general, most arborists will suggest the following: Mature Trees—Should be pruned or trimmed every 3-5 years. Juvenile Trees—Should be pruned or trimmed every 2-3 years.
As a general rule, prune spring-blooming trees immediately after they flower. Prune trees that bloom in the summer or fall in late winter or early spring before the end of their dormancy. Routine pruning of dead or dying branches can be done at any time.
Summer is an excellent time for restorative pruning. You can correct problems that have resulted from over-pruning or poor pruning. You can also clean up damage from winter and spring storms. Proper pruning will begin to restore most plants' natural shape.
Generally, the best time to prune or trim trees and shrubs is during the winter months. From November through March, most trees are dormant which makes it the ideal time for the following reasons: Trees are less susceptible to insects or disease.
Surely there's one chore you can tick off your endless outdoor to-do list—and maybe even get a jump on for spring. The rule on fall pruning is, generally speaking, don't prune in fall. But there are a few trimming tasks you can take on with confidence, provided you approach the job with self-control and a plan.
No matter what type of shrub you have, fall pruning can stimulate late-season growth that may not have enough time to harden. This can weaken and damage the plant—especially if there's an early frost. Instead, wait until winter and trim bushes when the plant is in deep dormancy.
Choose the Right Time
Likewise, prune in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the newly cut ends of branches becoming scorched by the hot sun. Wait 48 hours after rain to prune, to allow plants to dry out and avoid fungal diseases. When pruning, make cuts just above leaf nodes, or buds.
The best time to prune is after flowering. If the plant needs to be renovated, or severely reduced, this can be done late winter and early spring just before growth begins.
According to gardening expert Mike McGrath, author of Mike McGrath's Book of Compost, and radio host of the show You Bet Your Garden, the rule of pruning is that you should NOT prune in fall. That's right, nothing and no exceptions.
If you want to prune in fall, wait until trees drop their leaves and are dormant—usually October or November. After leaf drop, you can see the tree's structure and identify disease and insect problems more easily.
Don't Prune in Late Summer and Fall
Pruning shrubs in August or early September may encourage a late flush of growth.
Cut too much and you'll risk nutritional deficiencies or branches that are too weak to tolerate the wind or fend off diseases or insect invasions. Over pruning and topping can permanently disfigure your trees, or even kill them. Further, a tree's foliage is important for protecting it against excessive sun exposure.
Over pruning reduces the foliage needed to make food for the tree, so in effect, it starves it. When a tree has been over pruned, you may not see much new growth during the spring. In the winter, more branches than usual will break as a result of heavy loads.
Pruning Too Aggressively
Yes, it can be fun to prune, but unless you're turning your hydrangea or crepe myrtle into a topiary, don't overdo it. Over-pruning can permanently damage a plant, stunt its growth, and make it susceptible to disease.
The 1/3 rule involves cutting about 1/3 of wood during any pruning activity. This moderate pruning practice is a balanced approach to thinning out shrubs to stimulate new growth. The plant loses a good amount of stems, usually on the top section, allowing more light and air to enter the inside of the plant.
Watering is very important during the couple of weeks or more that a plant is recovering from root pruning. Right after pruning, I give the whole pot a thorough soaking. As new growth begins, I make sure to thoroughly wet all the soil at each watering.
Dried plums also contain sorbitol and chlorogenic acid, which can increase stool frequency. Eating a serving or two of prunes can help you maintain gastrointestinal health through promoting regular bowel movements.
Prunes. The nutrients in dried plums — vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium, to name a few — help make melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Use prunes as a whole-grain toast topping, mix them into trail mix, or eat them on their own about 30 minutes before bedtime.
Pruning can make plants hardier and help them over the winter too. Other plants, however, can't handle fall pruning—such as azalea, viburnum, Loropetalum, and lilac. If you prune a spring-blooming tree or shrub after its flower buds have formed, you'll be lopping away any opportunity for a spring showing.
As a general rule, a light summer pruning can be performed on most deciduous trees and shrubs. Heavier pruning should be performed when the tree is dormant, preferably in late winter before active growth begins.