What's the Best Time to Prune Evergreen Shrubs? Removing crossed, rubbing branches and thinning the interior of the shrub allows sunlight and air to penetrate, resulting in a better shape and healthier holly bush. To correct size or shape, prune in late … Badly overgrown shrubs respond well to pruning in late winter/early spring, just before new leaves appear. For evergreen hollies, it’s best to prune in early summer so that this new growth won’t be damaged by cool temperatures. Always be sure the pruning cuts are clean and smooth to encourage rapid wound healing. When to Prune Shrubs - Pruning Calendar for shrubs. Without doubt, the factor that affects shrubs more than any other is the actual timing of pruning operation. A. That part of it is up to you, since, either way, you will be pruning at a safe time, when the shrubs are dormant. Although it’s easy to focus on how to trim an overgrown shrub, when to prune is equally important. A. It is so different from the more typical hollies that you might as well be discussing another plant altogether, especially when it comes to pruning. Early spring is usually most convenient, but you can also trim the bushes in late winter if it’s not too cold for working outside. To correct size or shape, prune in late … How to Prune Holly Shrubs: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow The best time of year to trim evergreen bushes is before new growth occurs. However, you may wish to delay rejuvenation pruning on early spring-blooming shrubs until just after they’ve finished flowering. Wait to do a rejuvenation pruning until early spring, after all threat of frost has passed. Prune shade trees, such as oak, sweetgum, maple, … The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Growing American Holly and Related Plants. Removing the clippings from the garden bed and disposing of them promptly prevents accidental ingestion by children or pets. The mere mention of holly brings to mind conical trees with spiny leaves and red berries in winter. The trade-off is sometimes worthwhile because you are choosing a time to prune that is safe for the plant. Formal hedges Evergreen. I use both … Nevertheless, if safeguarding berry production is a priority for you, you could certainly wait until your holly has flowered and begun to form berries before pruning. Evergreen holly bushes are excellent decorative shrubs due to their glossy, leathery foliage, spiky leaves, and red berries. Evergreens that are still flowering or about to flower in mid-spring can be left until flowering has finished. Arborvitae will withstand heavy pruning and shearing because new branches develop from concealed buds in the branch crotches. If, on the other hand, you are forced to perform a drastic pruning on this bush, be prepared for it to look unsightly for a long time. For “bleeder” trees, heavy pruning should be done during the coldest weather. Prune in early spring or mid-summer. Many types need only light pruning to retain their natural shape, but you can also prune them more formally for a hedge. And cut branches just above new leaf buds. Some, like Ilex crenata and the deciduous Ilex verticillata, don’t look like hollies at all. That image is valid, but I love evergreen hollies because they are, in fact, so much more diverse than that. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Note: Flowers are produced on new (current season) wood; Flowers are produced on wood from past season, pruning while dormant will reduce flowers; Make pruning cuts well below diseased wood (fire blight) - disinfect shears between cuts Beyond that, holly is too diverse to give a general answer to this question, so here are some examples. Pruning at these times is good for shrubs. 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