When should you prune shrubs? | Timing for 62 bushes

Most spring bloomers form their flower buds in the previous year. If you grabbed the scissors before flowering, it would significantly reduce the amount of flowers. In the period from March 1st to September 30th, however, you have to observe legal regulations that prohibit excessive separation during this period. This is intended to protect breeding birds and their young birds.

bubble spar

In principle, cutting is possible all year round. However, experts disagree on the best time.

• in winter, before they sprout, the bushes are clear
• but the flowering does not last for a year
• in the summer after flowering, the formation of buds is not disturbed
• the interfaces also heal better

flower dogwood

This shrub naturally forms a beautiful crown. You can only cut it after flowering if space is tight. This leaves enough time to form flower buds for the following year. Better branching, on the other hand, is stimulated with a spring cut.

Blutjohannisbeere

The biennial shoots provide the flowers. For this reason, pruning should be cautious and be done after flowering in May.

Berberitze

Prune the barberry after the leaves have fallen in October or November. Then these shrubs are not weakened and new growth in spring is stimulated.

Deutzie

• slow growing crop
• does not necessarily require an annual cut
• if you want a second flowering, you should cut it
• best time in June when flowering is over

storey snowball

The Japanese snowball usually grows best without pruning. When cultivating in a bucket, cutting is necessary so that it does not become bare on the inside. Pick up your scissors from June, immediately after flowering. However, diseased and faded shoots should always be removed immediately.

service pear

There are two dates for pruning the bushes: early spring and spring after the end of the flowering period. At the second point in time, the owner can still enjoy the flowering.

lilac

• regularly pruning
• this leaves enough biennial shoots that carry the fragrant flowers
• Thinning cut in spring
• Remove faded flowers from the bushes in a timely manner

Forsythie

The blooming splendor of the forsythia is already over in March. Then the best time has come to cut the yellow bushes. Do not reach for the scissors later or even in autumn, otherwise it will not bloom the following year.

Stuffed snowball

After the snowball has been raised with five to seven ground shoots, the framework is regularly rejuvenated after flowering.

geißklee

Many know the yellow bushes as broom. In the first five years of life, they are shortened by two thirds immediately after flowering. Old specimens are not compatible with pruning. In spring, only remove frozen branches. In summer, cut back faded shoots down to the nearest side shoot.

spice bush

• Do not cut young specimens
• From old shrubs that bloom sparingly, cut about three of the oldest shoots from the crown in late winter

honeysuckle

After flowering, the honeysuckle develops decorative berries that are also poisonous to humans. Birds, on the other hand, like to eat it. A summer pruning after flowering prevents ripening. Otherwise, an autumn cut is recommended.

elder

The elder bush is cut on a frost-free day between late January and mid-March. The swollen flower buds are then easily recognizable and can be largely spared.

Kolkwitzie

• regular care cuts only after about five years of life
• the ideal time is the end of June after flowering

cork spindle

No time can be given here. The reason is that all shrubs of this type do not require pruning. They grow so beautifully bushy on their own that no pruning could do better.

Liguster

Many shrubs are usually planted at once because privet is a popular hedge plant. It is pruned hardest in spring, followed by a topiary in August.

Almond tree

• rejuvenate in January
• at temperatures of at least 5 °C
• Thin out after flowering in April

ranunculus

Regularly remove old flowers during the flowering period, which lasts from April to June. This encourages the bush to bloom again in August. The shrub is thinned out immediately after flowering.

Rispen-Sommerflieder

Education cuts of the first 3-4 years are temporally settled in the spring. After that, only cut after flowering.

mock hazel

The slow-growing hazel develops best if it is spared from large cuts. Disturbing branches can be removed in March just before flowering.

snowberry

The snowberry quickly gets out of hand with its urge to grow. This can be braked with scissors all year round. Even at sub-zero temperatures. However, since it is a bee magnet, you should wait until after flowering to cut it for the sake of the beneficial insects.

beautyfruit

The bush, also known as the love pearl bush, flowers on biennial shoots. Heavy pruning would give him a flowerless year. For this reason, weaker flowering shoots are only cut back close to the ground in summer. Alternatively, it can be pruned in spring or autumn.

spire

• Prune early flowering varieties immediately after flowering
• Late-flowering varieties wait until the following spring before pruning

tree peony

From spring to autumn, these bushes please us with their appearance. The scissors can rest there. Topiary cuts are carried out in the fall. Faded plants only have to give way promptly if seed formation is to be prevented.

Weigelie

The bell bush should be cut back regularly after flowering in June so that it blooms magnificently every year. Bushes that are not pruned quickly age.

winter snowball

It flowers in winter, between November and March. Immediately after the unusual flowering period, it is possible to shorten it with scissors.

crabapple

Small corrections are allowed throughout the year. Maintenance cuts are made between November and March, regeneration cuts from January to March.

ornamental cherry

• start thinning out after the fourth year
• in June after flowering
• Alternatively, make up for missed cuts in winter

ornamental quince

Slow-growing bushes such as the quince should be pruned cautiously from the third year directly after flowering. Autumn, on the other hand, is ideal for care cuts. In addition, the shoot tips are regularly removed for bushy growth.

witch hazel

The Hamamelis bushes, which cannot be pruned, are only carefully thinned out after flowering. Dry and old branches are primarily removed.

Summer bloomers and subshrubs

Summer bloomers form their flowers on this year’s shoots. Therefore, the main pruning must be done before flowering. If necessary, only minor corrections are made during the flowering period and faded flowers are diligently cleaned up.

Bartblume

The best time for pruning is early spring, as soon as the temperatures are above zero. Tub specimens are pruned after leaving winter quarters.

spice sage

• between late February and mid-March
• on a frost-free day
• pinch off the fresh shoots from May

sacred herb

There are two dates to choose from: late spring when budding begins and the time right after flowering. In summer, flowers can be cut to dry.

Hibiskus

Pruning once a year is a must as these bushes are fast growing. You can pick up the scissors either in spring or autumn. This encourages larger buds.

lavender

Lavender quickly becomes lignified and wilted, so it needs to be trimmed regularly. Cutting measures should be completed in March, at the latest in April. In July, faded flowers should also be removed so that they can bloom again.

Butterflies

The summer lilac is cut back in late winter because it forms its flowers on new shoots. If faded flowers are removed in a timely manner before the next pair of leaves, the flowers on the side shoots will be stronger.

Summer flowering Erika

• Cut back in spring before they sprout
• only with regular pruning do they remain compact and floriferous

Summer flowering spiers

These shrubs are pruned vigorously before they sprout in spring. This promotes the formation of new shoots and gives plenty of flowers.

thyme

In summer, by the end of July at the latest, the entire plant is cut back by up to two thirds. This encourages new growth and prevents woodiness.

Evergreen ornamental trees

Although some species also bloom, what is most important to us is their beautiful foliage. One pruning creates an attractive crown while propelling the tree into dense foliage.

Evergreen honeysuckle

The end of winter is ideal for both topiary and heavy pruning. Pruning can be done until the approaching spring.

bay cherry

The bushes are ideally pruned between March and early April. Pruning is also possible until June, but this prevents beautiful flowering. Hedge plants are cut a second time at the end of September or in spring.

Mahogany

• does not require a cut
• if necessary, shorten or remove individual shoots after flowering in March
• Fall and winter pruning will destroy flower buds

Rhododendron

Prune these shrubs before or after flowering. So either in February or in autumn. Also remove old flowers to spare the bushes the exhausting seed formation.

holly

You can prune these shrubs at any time. But the ideal time is in the summer from July to August. Then it’s best for them to relax.

carpet cotoneaster

Annual maintenance cuts are made in the spring after budding. For rejuvenation, on the other hand, they can be planted directly after flowering.

Time for rose bushes

Of the numerous varieties of roses, some grow as a shrub. Bed roses , dwarf roses, wild roses as well as one-off and frequently flowering shrub roses are cut at the following times:

• in spring before budding
• a second cut in autumn can prevent fungal diseases
• remove faded leaves promptly

Different types of hydrangea

The hydrangea family is richly branched. There are, for example, ball and plate hydrangeas, oak leaf hydrangeas, velvet and panicle hydrangeas and the widespread farmer’s hydrangea. All of these hydrangeas are pruned at the end of February, with the amount of pruning varying from variety to variety. Snowball hydrangeas and panicle hydrangeas bloom on new shoots, so only they can be pruned in late autumn.

Fruit-bearing berry bushes

They should sweeten our days with their fruits and carry them abundantly every year. That’s what the cut can do if it’s done at the right time.

blueberry

In the first years they are spared from the scissors. In the first year, remove all flowers promptly and in the second year, remove all fruit that has started. Thus, the power is concentrated on the growth of these bushes. After that, regular cuts ensure a lush harvest. The best time for these makeover cuts is fall, once the foliage is falling.

Red currant and gooseberry

You can cut both shrubs similarly, since their flowering behavior hardly differs. Cut all shoots that have borne fruit to cones after harvest or in the following spring. If necessary, you can additionally thin out dense bushes.

Black currant and jostaberry

The jostaberry is closely related to the blackcurrant because it is a cross between it and the gooseberry. Maintenance pruning is done in February or March or after harvest. Rejuvenation cuts are made from late winter to early March.