Why it’s important to prune some plants before growth begins
Be prepared for some cutting remarks (sorry) – dust off your loppers, pruning saw and secateurs with my guide to late winter pruning. When is late winter? It’s generally taken to mean February. Like all gardening tasks, you can extend that a couple of weeks in either direction, depending on the weather, so don’t panic if you think you’re too late.
Don’t want to brave the weather? Force yourself out there on a decent day, well wrapped up, and it’s one of the most rewarding times to be in the garden. Choose a dull day. You don’t want to be looking up into the sun if you’re pruning a tree. Make the job easier by investing in some decent cutting tools. I can highly recommend Spear & Jackson, Wilkinson Sword, Darlac and Corona.
Guide to late winter garden pruning – Redirect the plant’s energy
Why prune in late winter? Cutting a plant back when it is dormant or just starting to grow means all the energy can be put into developing fruit, flowers, etc. It’s mostly for fruit trees, canes and bushes, late-flowering deciduous shrubs and clematis and removing any dead, rotting tissue from herbaceous perennials.
As ever, this list is not exhaustive and is based on my garden. Timing’s also arbitrary. You can find more advice on pruning in this post. For roses, check out my how-to page. Here are the most important areas to concentrate on:
Apple and pear trees
Winter pruning can be quite complex, depending on where your tree bears its fruit – check out my in-depth page. Don’t over-prune, or you’ll get water shoots that won’t bear fruit.
Autumn-fruiting raspberries
Cut canes to ground level and thin if required. See more on raspberries.
Guide to late winter pruning – Gooseberries
Remove dead and low-lying shoots. Spur prune side shoots to one to three buds from the base. Shorten branch tips by a quarter, cutting to an outward-facing bud. More on gooseberries.
Currant fruit bushes
Aim to remove older wood, leaving young shoots, as this is where fruit forms. Remove weak shoots to give six to 10 healthy shoots. More on blackcurrants.
Late-flowering deciduous shrubs
For example, Buddleja davidii, Ceratostigma, Hydrangea paniculata, Lavatera, Leycesteria, Perovskia, hardy fuchsias and deciduous Ceanothus. Flowers form on the current year’s growth, so hack the back hard for the best blooms and to keep them in check. More on deciduous shrubs.
Guide to late winter pruning – Spiraea japonica
This deciduous shrub (mine is Goldflame) has brightly coloured spring foliage, so cut back hard to encourage new growth.
Shrubs grown for winter bark or stem, or young foliage
Such as dogwoods (Cornus) and Eucalyptus gunnii. Pruning will promote the type of growth you’re after. Cut back hard every 2-3 years or to your required shape. More on colourful stems and bark.
Guide to late winter pruning – Herbaceous perennials
I leave the dead foliage to act as winter structure and a home for beneficial insects. However, some fall victim to rot (hardy geraniums especially), so cut it back, mulch (avoiding the crown) and tidy up. More on hardy perennials.
Late-flowering clematis (Group 3)
These plants flower on this year’s growth, so they need to be pruned back hard in late winter, back to about three strong buds. If not cut back, flowers will appear higher up the plant – birds will get a good view, but you won’t.
Large-flowered clematis (Group 2)
They flower in May/June. Prune hard to 1ft (30cm) above the ground when planting, then when established, develop a framework of about 4 old wood stems. Don’t over-prune, as you may lose flowers. It can also be cut back lightly after flowering to promote another flush of blooms later in summer.
Guide to late winter pruning – Acers (Japanese maple)
I think pruning ruins their shape, but if you have to, do it when the plant is dormant, as wounds tend to bleed when in active growth. Read more about planting maples.
Guide to late winter pruning – What NOT to cut back
Early-flowering shrubs and Group 1 clematis
However, it’s not for everything. Steer clear of anything that flowers early – shrubs like Forsythia or group 1 clematis like C. montana or C. cirrhosa Freckles. If you prune now, you’ll cut off all the flowers. Prune early-flowering shrubs and Group 1 clematis AFTER blooming. They need to grow for the rest of the season before flowering next year.
Prunus (the cherry family)
Also, avoid pruning anything in the Prunus (cherry) family, as they can fall victim to silver leaf disease if cut back in winter.
