6 Plants to Prune in February Before It’s Too Late

Winter pruning of trees and shrubs. Natalia Lebedinskaia//Getty ImagesPrune Now in Most Regions: Shade Trees Young man pruning tree with green clippers Emilija Manevska//Getty ImagesPrune Now in Most Regions: Fruit Trees Pretty mature woman in hat and jacket prunes cuts down branches of apple tree in winter.. Natalia Lebedinskaia//Getty Images

Pruning fruit trees is done for many reasons including to create a structure that maximizes light exposure for leaves and fruit, increasing airflow to reduce disease risk, and to produce larger fruits. Pruning should be done just before new growth starts, which is mid- to late winter, depending on where you live.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Prune Now in Most Regions: Some Types of Hydrangeas Dried hydrangea flowers Annie Otzen//Getty Images

Some species of hydrangeas, such as panicle (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth (Hydrangea arborescens), can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Because these types bloom on new wood, or the growth that occurs this season, you won’t impact the flower power. However, avoid pruning species such as oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia), which bloom on last year’s wood, until after they flower this summer. If you cut them back now, you will not enjoy any blooms this year.

Prune Now in Most Regions: Roses what to prune in jan and feb roses.jpg lucentius//Getty Images

Roses benefit from pruning to ensure good air flow to reduce disease and to stimulate flower production. Shrub and landscape roses can be pruned in late winter to early spring in most of the country. Ideally, cut them back before you see new growth. Many climbing roses bloom on old wood, so you may choose not to cut these back until after they bloom unless it’s to remove broken or unruly canes.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Prune Now in the Mid and Lower South: Crepe Myrtle Bare crape myrtle tree branches against blue sky Carolyn Ann Ryan//Getty Images

This iconic southern tree or large shrub should be pruned in late winter before it breaks dormancy and develops new growth. This allows you to see the structure and thin out crowded or broken branches and suckers. Resist the urge to “top” the plant or cut it straight across the top, which is often referred to as “crepe murder,” and results in spindly new growth.

Prune Now in Mid and Lower South: Butterfly Bush Butterfly bush in first snow Amalthea Aelwyn / FOAP//Getty Images

This summer-flowering shrub benefits from maintenance pruning in late winter to early spring. Also, the warmer the climate, the more aggressively you can cut this shrub back—even to the ground—to ensure it blooms everywhere, not just at the tips of branches. In cold climates, however, it’s recommended to wait until it shows signs of growth in later in the spring because it’s sometimes damaged by cold if you cut it back too soon.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below