Late winter is a perfect time to prune the woody deciduous plants in your lawn and garden. Deciduous refers to the trees and shrubs that lose their leaves every winter, such as maples, hydrangeas, and oaks. Herbaceous plants have stems that will die back to the ground every winter. These can be cut back once the weather starts to warm.
Winter pruning is ideal because of the lack of leaves, dormancy of the plant, and reduced risk of transmitting diseases between plants. Without leaves, the structure of these woody plants is exposed and much easier to see. Plants that are dormant go through less shock from pruning than those with leaves. Diseases are less active in the winter, so you are less likely to pass them between plants. But be sure to practice good sanitation by disinfecting pruning tools between plants and keeping them sharp. And make sure you have gloves, safety glasses, and proper clothing to protect yourself while using pruning tools.
Before you start pruning, it’s best to have a plan. It is easy to start on a project and get sidetracked, like starting on one side of a plant and cutting way too far before you realize you have made a lopsided mess. Always take a moment and stand back from whatever you are pruning and envision the end product. Set goals for your pruning – are you looking to reduce the size of an unruly plant, lift the canopy of a growing tree, or correct structural issues before branches get too big?
