When Should You Prune A Tree? | Mowbot

The guidelines of what and when to prune are relatively straightforward. Winter dormancy, when possible, is best with one exception.

• Conifers: Prune in the late winter while still fully dormant.
• Non-blooming trees and shrubs: Prune in late winter while still fully dormant.
• Summer-blooming trees and shrubs: Prune in late winter while still fully dormant.
• Spring-blooming trees and shrubs: Prune immediately after blooming.

If you’re pruning blooming trees to enhance flowering, follow these two guidelines.

• Spring-blooming trees: Prune when their flowers fade
• Mid- to late summer-blooming trees: Prune in late winter or early spring

Throughout the year, you can manage your trees and shrubs by trimming back small branches, lightly shaping your bushes and hedges, and removing dead or diseased branches. If you live in an area prone to ice storms or hurricanes, remove loose and dead branches year-round to prevent further damage to the tree during a storm.