Shrub Pruning Checklist
by Steve Lesch

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED: 2000 Winter

Pruning Recommendations by Genus

ABIES
Firs. Dwarf types are decandled when shoots have matured 50%. Health or deep prune trees in winter.

ACER
Maples. Co-dominance and tight crotches are occasional problems. Up prune to allow movement under the tree. Prune in fall to early spring.

AMPELOPSIS
Porcelain Vine is sheared back up to 80% in March.

BERBERIS
Barberry can be renewed up to 80% in March.

BETULA
Birch is pruned in the spring removing tight crotches and removing lowest branches to allow walking or working under them. On dwarf birch only prune to maintain shape. Deep prune if height reduction is desired.

CARYOPTERIS
Blue Spirea is annually renewed in April once growth is noticed.

CHAMAECYPARIS
Hinoki Cypress and other types are health, structure-, or deep-pruned in winter or following first flush in summer.

CLEMATIS
Spring blooming types should be lightly rejuvenated post flowering. Most summer blooming types can be sheared up to 50% once vigorous new shoots form in April. Late summer or autumn blooming types can be sheared to 1 foot from the ground in February or March.

CLETHRA
Summersweet blooms on new growth. Rejuvenate or renew annually in March. Or remove stems more than 5 years old by rejuvenation.

CORNUS
Dogwood bushes: Rejuvenate or renew annually. The younger twigs or stems are the brightest colored. Remove stems more than 5 years old by rejuvenation. Gradual production of a stool yields the finest form.

Pagoda dogwood: Only health-, structure, or deep-prune in March. Allow an occasional shoot to mature. If it is maintained as a single trunk, the entire trunk will ultimately die as each trunk generally persists for less than 15 years. You must allow for new trunks to develop and replace the older ones when the time arrives.

COTINUS
Smokebushes flower on old wood. Health-prune post flowering. The best foliage is produced on new growth. Encourage a coppice growth structure.

COTONEASTER
Health prune in March. Deep prune longest or oldest branches. Tree types should only be health-pruned in March or immediately post flowering.

DAPHNE
Daphnes are only health pruned when necessary. If they become too large shearing 10-20% annually post flowering is acceptable but rarely desirable.

EUONYMUS
Burning Bush can be deep pruned up to 50% in March. Tolerates shearing quite well.

EUONYMUS
Wintercreeper. Ruthless shearing is occasionally required.

HAMAMELIS
Witchhazel is best health-pruned between flowering and leaf formation.

HIBISCUS
Rose of Sharon. Shear up to 50% in March as they bloom on new wood.

HYDRANGEA
Panicled types should be health-pruned only. 'Annabelle' hydrangea should be renewed every March. Oakleaf hydrangea is sheared 10-20% post flowering and occasionally renewed every 5-10 years in March. Big leaf hydrangea should be deadheaded in late March with health pruning to vigorous shoots in April-May. Climbing hydrangea is only deadheaded and health pruned in March.

JUNIPERUS
Trees and dwarf types are health- or deep-pruned in winter.

KERRIA
Japanese Kerria is renewal pruned every few years post flowering. Shear 30% after flowering.

LAVANDULA
Lavender is sheared 30-50% once growth appears in the spring.

LONICERA
Honeysuckle bushes should be ruthlessly removal pruned.

MAHONIA
Oregon grapeholly is health pruned once vigorous growth appears in the spring or immediately post flowering.

MALUS
Crabapples are pruned for health, epicormics, suckers and crossings in March or immediately post flowering.

PAEONIA
Tree peonies are health pruned once healthy growth appears in the spring.

PICEA
Spruce. Dwarf types are decandled when shoots have matured 50%. Health- or deep-prune trees in winter.

PINUS
Pines. Dwarf types are decandled when shoots have matured 50%. Health- or deep-prune trees in winter.

POTENTILLA
Rejuvenate every 3-5 years. Shear back by 30% every March.

RHAMNUS
Buckthorn should be ruthlessly removal pruned.

RIBES
Currants can be sheared up to 80% in March or rejuvenated annually.

SALIX
Bush types such as 'Blue Arctic' should be sheared up to 80% in March or rejuvenated annually. Coppice pruning beautifully enhances the form . Trees should be health pruned and check for narrow crotches and bark inclusions in March.

SORBARIA
False Ural spiraea is rejuvenated or renewed annually in March.

SPIRAEA
Summer blooming spiraea respond wonderfully to renewal pruning in March. Spring blooming spiraea should be rejuvenated annually or renewal pruned post flowering when they become overgrown. Lightly shearing summer blooming types post flowering often results in a second flowering season.

SYMPHORICARPOS
Coralberry is renewed annually or every 3 years or so in March.

SYRINGA
Lilacs. Rejuvenate annually or renewal prune to about 12" post flowering when they become overgrown.

TAXUS
Yews are health or deep pruned in winter or following evidence of flush in late spring. They are quite tolerant of shearing about 10% post flushing.

THUJA
Arborvitae can be sheared by 10% or deep pruned to retain natural look and shape. Prune in March.

TSUGA
Hemlocks are health or deep pruned in winter. Shear 10% post flushing.

VIBURNUM
Rejuvenate Viburnum annually or renewal prune to 6" post flowering when they become overgrown.

Steve Lesch is a landscape designer, environmental ecologist, and owner of Landscape Designs, Inc, located in Madison, WI. He can be reached at (608) 233-4215 or via LDI@chorus.net. He recommends the book, The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers by George E. Brown.

COPYRIGHT 1998; 1999 Landscape Designs, Inc., Steve Lesch. Reprint only with permission.

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