Summer is an excellent time for restorative pruning. Summer pruning tasks may include removing dead, damaged or diseased branches. Many people think of pruning as a winter task, but there are a number of great reasons to prune your trees and shrubs in summer.
After “how?", the second most-asked question we get about pruning is “when?” (Or, "Can I prune this now?") The rule of thumb is to prune immediately after bloom for flowering shrubs, in late winter or early spring for non-blooming shrubs (particularly for heavy pruning), and not after mid-August for any shrubs.
Late spring, early fall, or winter (when the hedges are fully dormant) are the best times for pruning hedges. Don't prune hedges during very hot, dry weather, and prune well before your first frost date.
Late summer or early fall pruning causes vigorous re-growth of tissue, which in some cases may not harden off by the time winter arrives, leading to possible cold damage to the new growth.
Few plants are pruned this time of year because pruning encourages new growth that does not have time to harden off before winter. Late-season pruning typically does more harm than good. However, it is always a good idea to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as soon as you notice them.
August is an excellent month for pruning many shrubs and trees in the landscape, just ahead of the fall growth spurt. It's also a perfect time for pruning backyard fruit trees for size control. Removing excess growth now instead of waiting until January will help keep fruit trees smaller.
Helps Control Disease
Some trees, like oaks, should only be pruned during the dormant season because they are especially susceptible to oak wilt disease, which is known to spread extremely fast in the spring and summer.
Now and through the summer months is the time to do any major pruning or cutting back of shrubs and trees. With the fast, summer growth rate upon us the plants will regrow and look beautiful for next fall season. Pruning of ornamental shrubs is done to improve their health and appearance.
Prune all evergreens, except pine, before new growth starts in the spring or during the semidormant period in mid-summer. When pruning, follow the general branching pattern to maintain the natural shape. Remove dead, diseased, or broken branches anytime.
The period between the full and new moon (third and fourth quarters) is best for harvesting, slowing growth, etc.
If you spot any activity in your plants, you must wait until after autumn when the chicks have left their nest before trimming. August to March is often the best time to trim your hedges as birds don't tend to nest in the winter.
Overgrown hedges can handle a heavy trim, but take care not to sever any of the main branches that feed the top. If possible, trim hedges in mid-morning.
Even if the plant is completely healthy, try and prune it back by about a third. Cutting it back will mean that it will not need as much water, allowing the plant to live longer on less water. Trees and shrubs should generally be exempt from pruning because their canopies are what keep them cool during the hot days.
Common Mistakes
Prune just above a healthy bud, with the bud pointing in the direction you want the plant to grow. Cut at a 45-degree angle, with the low point of the cut opposite the bud. Don't cut too far from or too close to the bud you want to encourage. Leave a “collar” when cutting off a branch.
The inner limbs need air and sunlight, so cut back along the branch just above new growth or at the plant base; avoid electric trimmers for this. Trimmers just top the shrub, encouraging new growth near the cut. Cut farther back to encourage growth along the limb.
You probably already know just how fast shrubs grow and start to look messy. If you wait too long, your shrubs will start to become an eyesore. 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.
Late spring is an excellent time to prune evergreen shrubs in the landscape. Pruning just after the emergence of the spring growth will provide a basis for helping to shape the plant while retaining the natural look.
– Too Much Sun. “Why is my evergreen turning brown in the summer” is a common question, and the answer is simple – heat stress.
Help fruit trees grow strong.
Increased light and air circulation resulting from trimming encourages the overall health of the tree. Pruning in the summer helps to support robust and durable branch development, which will help support healthy fruit in the future.
Shrubs to prune in early summer: lilac, azalea, forsythia, Japanese kerria, weigela, deutzia, mockorange, St. John's wort, viburnums and the colorful redtwig and yellowtwig dogwoods.
After stems have been removed down to the ground, the shrub quickly begins to regrow. Flowering shrubs produce more blossoms in following years and shrubs with colorful stems, such as dogwoods, tend to grow back brighter and more colorful after rejuvenation pruning.
In summer, leaves engage in photosynthesis and produce carbohydrates. The tree translocates those carbohydrates throughout to grow roots, shoots, leaves, and fruit. By removing leaves during summer pruning you remove a resource point and thus reduce energy for overall tree growth or regrowth.
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.
Pruning is generally good for trees because it promotes their health. It can also improve the tree's size and form. However, consider waiting to prune until drought conditions improve. When trees are stressed, such as during a drought, they are more susceptible to disease and insects.