Pruning Calendar Full chart

Shrub pruning calendar for your yard

Pick your state and the plants you grow. See what to prune this month and the rest of the year, with the last safe date for each, from extension guides.

When does spring come?

Late winter pruning ends about mid-March (zones 6 and 7).

US timing. Not for the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, south Florida or the southern hemisphere.

Type a plant name, then pick it from the list.

    Hydrangea helper

    Which hydrangea do you have? Pick the one that matches:

    From Cornell Cooperative Extension's hydrangea guide.

    Clematis helper

    Which clematis group? When does yours flower?

    From Clemson Extension's clematis fact sheet.

    Browse all plants
    Shrubs that flower in spring
    Shrubs that flower in summer or are grown for leaves
    Evergreens and hedges
    Hydrangeas
    Roses
    Clematis and vines
    Trees
    Fruit trees and berries
    Grasses and perennials

    Your year

    Month by month

    Any month: light corrective pruning, like cutting out a dead or broken branch, is fine (NC State).

    How the months are worked out

    Months for an average spring follow the Virginia Tech shrub pruning calendar. The spring setting moves them: late winter pruning ends about mid-February where spring comes early (south Georgia, coastal South Carolina), mid-March in average areas (north Georgia, Virginia) and early to mid-April where it comes late (Iowa, Minnesota, the South Carolina mountains), as UGA, Clemson, Iowa State and Minnesota Extension describe. After-flowering jobs shift the same way, so they are marked "about"; set your own flowering months for exact dates.

    Woody plants get no jobs from August to October: NC State advises little or no pruning after early July, because new growth may not harden before cold weather. Timing for the Pacific Northwest, tropical gardens and the southern hemisphere is not covered.

    Oak wilt windows by state

    Where a state agency or extension service publishes a no-prune window for oaks, the plan uses it.

    StateDon't prune oaksSource
    IllinoisApr 1 to Oct 31Illinois Extension
    IndianaMar 1 to Nov 30Purdue Extension
    IowaOutside December to FebruaryIowa State
    MichiganApr 15 to Jul 15Michigan DNR
    MinnesotaApr 1 to Jul 31Minnesota Extension
    MissouriMar 15 to Jul 15MU Extension
    New YorkMar 1 to Sep 30New York DEC
    OhioApr 15 to Oct 15Ohio State Extension
    TexasFeb 1 to Jun 30Texas A&M Forest Service
    WisconsinApr 1 to Jul 31Wisconsin DNR

    Elsewhere, prune oaks in winter; the plan holds off from February, March or April (early, average or late spring) through July. Illinois Extension also advises no pruning of elms from April to October, to keep Dutch elm disease beetles away.

    Pruning questions

    When should I prune shrubs?

    It depends on when they flower. Shrubs that bloom before May flower on last year's wood: prune right after the flowers fade. Shrubs that bloom in summer flower on new growth: prune in late winter before growth starts. Shrubs grown for leaves or stems also go in late winter (UGA, NC State, Minnesota Extension).

    What happens if I prune at the wrong time?

    It rarely kills a plant. You lose that year's flowers if you cut buds off, and pruning in late summer or fall can push new growth that cold weather damages (NC State, MU Extension). Light corrective pruning, like taking out a dead or broken branch, is fine any time of year (NC State).

    When is it too late to prune spring-blooming shrubs?

    Early July. N.C. Cooperative Extension says no later than July 10, and NC State advises little or no pruning after July 4. Bigleaf hydrangeas can go until August 1 (Clemson); after that you cut off next year's flower buds.

    Can I prune in the fall?

    Not woody plants, as a rule: fall cuts can bring tender growth or dieback (UGA, Minnesota Extension). Wisteria is the exception, pruned in late summer and early fall (NC State). Perennials can be cut back after several hard frosts, though leaving many until spring is fine (Penn State).

    Why does my maple drip sap when I prune it?

    Maples, birches and walnuts "bleed" when pruned in late winter or early spring. It does not harm the tree (NC State). To avoid it, prune after the leaves are fully out in late spring or early summer (Minnesota Extension).

    When can I prune oak trees?

    In winter, while they are dormant. Oak wilt spreads through fresh cuts in spring and early summer. Several states publish exact no-prune windows, listed above. If an oak gets wounded during that time, cover the cut right away with latex paint or shellac.

    Should I seal pruning cuts?

    No. Wound dressing is not normally needed (Minnesota Extension), and NC State advises against it because sealing can promote decay. The exception is oaks cut in the risky months: cover the wound with latex paint against oak wilt beetles. Clemson also seals rose canes thicker than a pencil (nail polish or wood glue) against cane borers.

    Sources

    Each plant in your plan names its own sources. In all, 34 guides from Virginia Cooperative Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, NC State Extension, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, UGA Extension, University of Missouri Extension, Penn State Extension, Iowa State University Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, University of Illinois Extension, Wisconsin DNR, Michigan DNR, Texas A&M Forest Service, New York State DEC, Ohio State University Extension and Purdue Extension.

    All guides, with links