11 Plants You Should Never Prune in Early Spring

Plus, 25 plants you should be pruning in spring. Our in-depth guide tells you when to sharpen your pruners, and when not to, so you can avoid costly mistakes.

Updated on April 26, 2023

By: Lynn Coulter

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Courtesy of Monrovia

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Kathleen Schmucker/NBG/Plant Development Services/Encore Azalea

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Timothy D. Wood/Spring Meadow Nursery

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: Kathleen Schmucker/Southern Living Plant Collection/Sunset Plant Collection

Photo By: Tracy Walsh/Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: National Garden Bureau

Photo By: Monrovia/Doreen Wynja

Photo By: Photo by Lynn Coulter

Photo By: Star Roses & Plants

Photo By: Southern Living Plant Collection

Photo By: Timothy D. Wood/ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Timothy D. Wood/ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Danziger

Photo By: Walters Gardens, Inc.

Photo By: Walters Gardens, Inc.,

Photo By: Kathleen Schmucker/Southern Living Plant Collection

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: ProvenWinners.com

Photo By: Walters Gardens, Inc.

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: Southern Living Plant Collection

Photo By: Baily Nurseries

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Photo By: Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: Bailey Nurseries

Know When to Prune So You Don't Lose Your Blooms

Spring fever makes us want to spring clean our homes — and our gardens. Just don't be too eager to pick up the shears and pruners. There are flowering plants you shouldn't prune in very early spring. If you do, you'll cut off their buds and you won't have any blooms, or you'll have only a few until the following year. Learn which plants you should be pruning in spring, too. Use these spring pruning tips to make the most of your garden.

When to Prune Lilacs

Prune lilacs immediately after the blooms finish. Buds for the next year's flowers form right after the flowers fade, so don't wait too long. However, it's fine to remove dead, damaged or diseased stems, and stems that rub against each other. Also, completely cut off old stems thicker than two inches, leaving 10 or 12 main stems, each 1 or 2 inches thick. Otherwise, lilacs eventually grow very tall and flower only on the tips. Don't prune more than one-third of your bush at one time.

This lilac, 'Purple Bloomerang' (Syringa) is hardy in USDA Gardening Zones 3 to 7. It blooms in mid-to-late spring, takes a short rest to put out new growth and reblooms from summer into fall. Because it sets buds on both new and old wood and it's compact, at 4 to 5 feet tall, it doesn't need much pruning. If you prune, give it a light trim as soon as the flowers fade.

See More: How to Plant and Care for Lilacs

When to Prune Forsythia

Brilliant yellow blooms explode on forsythias in spring but hold off on pruning these shrubs very early in the season. Because forsythia buds form on old wood, wait until the flowers open and fade before you start cutting. Keep your forsythia's natural shape when you prune. It won't set as many buds if it's trimmed into a hedge.

'Show Off Sugar Baby' is a fast-growing, dwarf plant that doesn't need much pruning anyway, unless you're just taking out dead or damaged branches. This plant is hardy in Zones 5 to 18.

Learn More: How to Grow Forsythia Bush

When to Prune Azaleas

Don't take the cutters to azaleas in very early spring. Wait until immediately after the blooms are finished. If you prune reblooming azaleas later, you'll lose the next cycle of flowers.

Introduced in 2021, 'Autumn Starburst' is a standout azalea with coral-pink flowers that open in spring, summer and fall. Thanks to its mounding growth habit and small size (it grows just 3 feet tall and wide), this rebloomer, which is hardy to Zone 6a, doesn't require much pruning.

See More: How to Plant and Grow Azaleas

How to Prune Rhododendron

Since rhododendron blooms on old wood, don't prune it in very early spring. The first flush of flowers will open in spring on the previous year's wood. Immediately after they finish, lightly trim your plant to stimulate new growth. That new growth will give you more flowers later in the season. Rhododendrons that don't rebloom should also be pruned just after the flowers shrivel and fade.

'Perfecto Mundo Double White' (Rhododendron x) is a reblooming azalea in the Rhododendron genus or group.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Rhododendron

When to Prune Fothergilla

Low-maintenance fothergillas, also called bottlebrush shrubs, are easy to grow. Their snowy-white flowers, held on long branches, are fragrant and plentiful from spring into fall. Fothergillas don’t need much pruning but do remove suckers, dead wood and crossed branches. If you prune to keep it small, wait until late spring or early summer when the blooms have finished. ‘Legend of the Small' was introduced in 2021. It's great for containers and small spaces, maturing at 4 to 5 feet tall and wide in Zones 4 to 9.

When to Prune Oakleaf Hydrangea

Oakleaf hydrangeas set buds on the previous year’s wood, so don’t prune them in very early spring. Unless you want to control their size, you don't usually need to prune them at all. If you do cut them back, wait until just after the blooms finish.

Also called an oakleaf hydrangea, 'Snow Queen' (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a stunning shrub with oak leaf-shaped foliage that grows in Zones 5 to 9. Its flower panicles appear in summer. As they age, they change from creamy white to rosy pink. By fall, the dark green leaves turn burgundy to bronze-purple and red.

When to Prune Gardenias

Snowy-white gardenia blossoms scent the air when they open in late spring or fall. Some gardenias form their flower buds on both old and new wood, and some bloom more than once a year. If possible, determine what kind of gardenia you have before you cut. Otherwise, don't prune in very early spring, or you risk losing some or all of your flowers. Wait until immediately after the flowers die.

This gardenia, 'Diamond Spire,' has an upright growth habit, flowers in late spring and reblooms in summer.

See More: How to Grow and Care for Gardenia Plants

When to Trim Sweetshrub

Sweetshrubs, also called Carolina allspice, add fragrance to your garden, although some people say they can't smell them. The wine-colored flowers on this shrub, Calycanthus floridus, open in mid-to-late spring or summer, depending on where you live, and have a fruity fragrance of melons, bananas, strawberries and pineapples. Even the leaves smell good when they’re crushed. Prune your sweetshrub immediately after it flowers. Shown here: 'Simply Scentsational', a new-for-2022 variety that’s cold hardy into Zone 4.

Learn More: Grow Sweetshrub in Your Garden

How to Prune Deutzia

Don't prune deutzias in very early spring. Wait until the flowers are done, which is usually in mid-to-late summer. Over time, some deutzia twigs and branches may die or decline, and those can be pruned away at any time.

The white, scented flower buds on deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' look like strings of pearls. The blooms open in spring on this petite shrub, which is hardy to Zone 5. The plants are self-cleaning; that is, the flowers drop off when they're finished.

When to Prune Weigela

Weigela shrubs form their buds on year-old wood, so prune them just after the flowers finish in late spring or early summer. Don't delay, because if you prune too late in the season, you'll remove the growth that would produce the next year's flowers. If your weigela is in very bad shape, reinvigorate it by removing all its branches to four inches above the ground.

Weigela 'Electric Love', shown here, is a compact beauty that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide in Zones 4 to 10. Its brilliant red flowers light up landscapes and gardens from summer into fall.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Weigela

When to Prune Honeysuckle

Honeysuckles (Lonicera) are fast-growing vines or shrubs with a honey-sweet fragrance. To keep them healthy and vigorous, remove dead, diseased, or damaged vines and stems at any time. Otherwise, don't prune honeysuckles in very early spring. Wait until the flowers drop, which is usually in late spring or summer. Some honeysuckles are considered invasive in some areas, so check with your county extension service to be sure the variety you want is okay to plant.

Shown here: Monrovia's summer-blooming 'Halliana' or 'Hall's Japanese Honeysuckle' (Lonicera japonica 'Halliana').

When to Prune Early Spring Blooming Clematis

Know when your clematis blooms to know when to prune. If your plant didn't come with a tag or label, and you don't know when it will flower, let it grow for a year and watch it.

If your clematis blooms in early spring, prune it to shape it just after the flowers fade. Remove up to one-third of the plant, but avoid cutting out old woody stems; spring bloomers produce their buds on them. Early spring bloomers include Clematis montana, Clematis armandii and Clematis alpina.

Clematis with large flowers that bloom in mid spring can also be pruned for size after their flowers fade. 'Henry' and 'Nelly Moser' are examples of large-flowering, midspring bloomers.

See More: How to Grow Clematis Vine

Plants You Should Prune in Spring

While some plants won't bloom if they're cut back too early, others need spring pruning. Cutting them back encourages new growth and lets you remove dead, diseased or damaged plant parts so your garden looks better and stays healthier.

Plant this miniature rose, Sunblaze Cherry, in containers or in the garden; it matures at 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Prune it back by about one-third in late winter or early spring to manage its size and shape. Check out the rest of our list of plants you should be pruning in spring.

Learn More: Late Winter and Early Spring Pruning Guide

When to Prune Summer and Fall Blooming Clematis

Summer and fall blooming clematis plants flower on new wood, or growth that appears in the current year. Prune them in late winter or early spring by cutting them to 6 to 24 inches above the ground. These include Clematis jackmanii and Clematis integrifolia.

This spectacular clematis, 'Taiga', has double purple flowers tipped in lime and blooms from early summer into early fall on both old and new wood. Prune it in spring and again as needed for size. It's hardy in Zones 6 to 9.

How to Trim Juniper

Junipers are popular evergreen shrubs, but they can get out of control. Before new growth emerges in the spring, cut off any overly long or crisscrossed branches. Cut them off from the base; otherwise, you'll have empty spots because bare branches won't grow new leaves. Dense junipers can also develop dead zones in their centers when the foliage dies from a lack of sunlight. These zones won't fill in, either. If your juniper looks really bad, you may have to replace it.

'Tortuga' juniper (Juniperus communis), shown here, is a tough conifer that forms low mounds 24 inches high, so it doesn't need much pruning. Like 'Tortuga', most common junipers are hardy in Zones 2 to 7.

See More: How to Choose, Plant and Grow Junipers

When to Cut Back Helianthus

Helianthus comes from Greek words meaning sun and flower, and this shrubby-looking, easy-to-grow plant opens its sunny yellow blooms from late summer until a hard frost. Cut your helianthus to the ground in late winter or early spring, and the plants will spread through underground rhizomes.

Hardy in Zones 5 to 10, this 'Autumn Gold' (Helianthus salicifolius) forms neat clumps with slender, willow-like leaves. Let the stems and faded flowerheads remain until you prune in spring. They'll add winter interest to your garden and provide seeds for hungry birds.

When to Prune Red Twig Dogwood

Red twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea) are especially eye-catching in the winter when the landscape is bare and their scarlet stems seem to glow in the sun. These deciduous shrubs are hardy in Zones 2 to 7 and should be pruned before they break dormancy. Cut back one-third of the branches every year in early spring to encourage new growth. If your shrub is completely overgrown or woody, give it a hard pruning by cutting it to 18 inches above the ground (you'll have to wait at least a year to get more flowers).

This red twig dogwood, Arctic Fire Red (Red-Osier Dogwood), is a dwarf variety that grows 3 to 5 feet tall.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Red Twig Dogwood

And When to Trim Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cultivars of red twig dogwoods, yellow twig dogwoods (Cornus) are deciduous shrubs with bright yellowish-green stems. Like the red twigs, they can be pruned in early spring while they're dormant and before new growth appears.

The youngest stems have the brightest colors; they start to look dull as their bark matures with age. For new growth and better color, remove one-third of the older stems every year. If your entire plant is overgrown, remove all the old stems at ground level and leave the young ones.

Arctic Fire Yellow (Red-Osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera), pictured here, is hardy in Zones 2 to 7.

When to Prune Beautyberry

Since American Beautyberries (Callicarpa spp.) bloom and set fruit on new growth, late winter to early spring is the best time to prune them. These shrubs don’t have showy flowers, but their deep purple, pink or white berries add gorgeous color to the landscape or garden.

When you’re ready to prune your plant, cut back all the branches to 12 inches above the ground. If you prefer, prune it more conservatively over a three-year period, removing one-third of the largest, oldest branches each time you cut. Birds like to feast on the violet-purple berries of beautyberries like this 'Pearl Glam'. It's hardy in Zones 5 to 8, although some beautyberries are hardy to Zone 9.

When to Prune Yews

Long-lived yews (Taxus spp.) are evergreens that recover nicely from pruning. Most are hardy in Zones 3 to 8. Since fall or winter pruning can leave them susceptible to cold damage, cut them back in early spring while they're dormant, but don't just prune the tips. Remove branches that stick out by cutting them at their joints. If you have a large, dense yew, use long-handled pruners and wear long gloves to reach into it and remove unwanted shoots.

Unlike common junipers, yews will sprout on bare wood if you prune them and leave bare branches. But don't remove more than one-third of the branches at one time. This dwarf 'Stonehenge Dark Druid' forms a neat mound of foliage and needs little pruning. It's hardy in Zones 3 to 7.

When to Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans

Most of us know Rudbeckia hirtas by their common name, Black-eyed Susans. They're short-lived perennials or biennials in Zones 4 to 9 that usually don't live more than three years. In cold winter regions, they often behave like annuals and die to the ground. If yours doesn't, wait until early spring to prune it to just above the ground, so the birds can feed on the dried seedheads. Leaving it unpruned also helps insulate the roots over the winter.

This Rudbeckia, 'Lion Cub,' has pom-pom-shaped flowers with thin, strappy petals and chocolate-brown centers. It's hardy only in Zones 8 to 10.

Learn More: Black-Eyed Susan: How to Grow and Care for This Cheery Perennial

When to Trim Boxwoods

While it's fine to trim your boxwoods whenever they're actively growing, save the serious pruning for early spring. Shear or trim them while they're young to encourage new branches, but be conservative. Heavy-handed shearing can promote dense growth on the outside of these shrubs, and if the inner branches don't get enough sunlight, they'll die.

It's better to prune over time instead of making drastic cuts after your boxwood is overgrown. Slow-growing 'Green Mountain' boxwood (Buxus) is hardy in Zones 5 to 9 and should be pruned annually before it breaks dormancy and puts out new growth.

See More: Growing Boxwoods

When to Cut Back Coneflower

Some gardeners leave their coneflowers (Echinaceas) uncut, so they’ll set seeds for hungry birds. For a neater look in your garden, prune your plants after they go dormant in the late fall or winter, or cut them to 3 to 6 inches above the soil in very early spring.

Want to hedge your bets? Leave some of your coneflowers standing to provide food for wildlife and prune the rest. Shown here: Summersong Firefinch, hardy in Zones 4 to 8. This short perennial matures at 12 to 16 inches tall with reddish-orange to pinkish-orange flowers.

See More: Coneflower: Growing and Caring for Echinacea

When to Trim Holly Bushes

Hollies (Ilex) are much more than holiday decorations. These evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs have inconspicuous flowers, spiny leaves and berries (technically, they’re drupes) that range from red to black, brown, yellow or green, and they make great hedges. The best time to cut them back is in early spring just as they start to break dormancy. After that, you can also trim them lightly to moderately, if needed, to shape them and control their size

Named for its oak-shaped, golden foliage, 'Golden Oakland' holly has an upright shape and needs little pruning. If desired, shape it in early spring before you see the first flush of new growth. It's hardy in Zones 6 to 9.

When to Prune Rose of Sharon

As you'd guess from its botanical name, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, is a deciduous type of hibiscus. It's prized for big, beautiful blooms that open from summer to fall. Also called althea, this upright shrub can grow to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Rose of Sharon doesn’t need much pruning, but you can cut it back to maintain its shape and size. Since the blooms appear on new wood, prune it in late winter or early spring so you won't lose any buds. Encourage even more branches and even more flowers by pruning back the tips of the stems.

Shown here: Rose of Sharon 'Blue Chiffon' has single lavender-blue blooms with lacy centers. It's hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

Learn More: Growing Rose of Sharon

When to Prune Euonymus

There are about 175 plants in the Euonymus genus, including shrubs, trees and vines. Grown primarily for their colorful foliage, most need pruning to keep their shape and prevent flowers from forming berries that drop and self-seed. Prune your euonymus regularly by removing any long or weak branches in early spring and take out offshoots and suckers as soon as you see them. If your entire plant is overgrown, cut it back by one-third to reinvigorate it.

'Gold Splash' wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) has green leaves with gold bands and is recommended for Zones 5 to 9. Grow it without supports as a groundcover, or train it on supports and it can climb to 70 feet high. To grow it as a shrub, prune it in early spring and let it reach 2 to 4 feet tall.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Euonymus

How to Prune Caryopteris

Drought-tolerant Caryopteris — you may hear this plant called Blue Mist, Bluebeard or Blue Spirea — is a woody shrub that opens fragrant blue-purple blooms from late summer into fall. A yearly pruning keeps it compact; left unpruned, it's likely to produce a mass of overlapping stems.

Cut Caryopteris stems to 12 to 18 inches above the ground in early spring before new growth appears, or simply cut it back by half. 'Grand Bleu', shown here, bears clouds of nectar-rich, purple-blue blooms that attract pollinators. Most Caryopteris plants are hardy in Zones 6 to 9; this one is hardy to Zone 5.

How to Prune Privet

Privets (Ligustrum spp.) are evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs often grown as hedges and screens. Prune yours in early spring when new growth starts to appear by removing the oldest branches from the base of the plant. Cut them to ground level, but don’t take out more than 25 percent of the branches at any one time. Privet grows fast, so you’ll probably need to trim and shape it again, but stop pruning by late summer. You don't want to stimulate new growth that will be damaged when the temperatures drop.

This 'Golden Ticket' privet (Ligustrum x vicaryi) is the first non-invasive privet. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8, it blooms on old wood. If you want flowers and prefer its natural shape, prune it in late winter. If you don’t care about the flowers and want a more formal shape, shear it in early spring.

When to Prune Butterfly Bush

Some gardeners prune their butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) each fall as part of their yearly clean-up, but these pretty shrubs form flowers on new growth, and this can leave them susceptible to cold damage. Cut them instead when you see new growth in the spring (even if your bush is slow to break dormancy, it will recover quickly). Prune your plant to 6 inches to 12 inches above the ground and keep it deadheaded to encourage more flowers. Even dwarf types benefit from trimming. It's fine to remove scraggly or unsightly stems at any time of year.

Plant 'Violet Cascade' butterfly bush for its deep purple, cascading flowers. Hardy in Zones 5 to 10, it grows 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. While butterfly bushes can be invasive, this one is sterile and won’t drop seeds.

See More: How to Care for Butterfly Bush

When to Prune Crape Myrtle

You spell it crape myrtle, I spell it crepe myrtle. (Crepe myrtle is considered the Southern name for this shrub or small tree.) Most crape myrtles bloom in summer on new wood, so prune them while they're dormant in late winter or early spring to shape them or remove crisscrossed branches. Don't commit "crape murder" by chopping off the tops and leaving bare stumps.

If needed, remove some interior branches to allow more sunlight to reach the center of your plant. Use a pruning saw to cut the branches just above the branch collar (the place where the branch joins the trunk). Don't cut them flush to the trunk. For a more pleasing appearance, you can also "limb up" your plant by removing some lower branches. If your plant is too big for its location, consider moving it or cutting off some trunks just above ground level.

Disease-resistant First Editions 'Shadow Magic' Crapemyrtle (sic) grows 7 to 9 feet tall with a 5- to 7-foot spread and has dark-rose blooms. It's hardy in Zones 7 to 9.

Choosing the Right Crape Myrtle for Your Landscape

When to Cut Back Sedum

Sedums, or stonecrops, are succulents in the Crassulaceae family. Known for their fleshy leaves, they're available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some are annuals and some are perennials hardy to Zones 2 or 3. Some bloom, but most of these easy-to-grow plants are valued for their foliage. Depending on which type you're growing, your sedum may not need pruning. If it does, pinch the tips of tall sedums just above a leaf node to control for size and encourage more branches. Trim low-growing sedums just above a leaf node, too, if needed. Remove unwanted stalks by cutting them to the base of the plant. Prune in early spring, just before new growth appears at soil level.

'Thunderhead' sedum's big flowerheads change from rose red to deep red as they age. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, this plant has grey-green foliage and matures at 18 to 24 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

How to Prune Trumpet Vine

Tough, deciduous trumpet vines (Campsis radicans), also called trumpet creepers, grow vigorously to 25 to 40 feet long and 5 to 10 feet wide. Give them a hard pruning every year in early spring by cutting them back almost to the ground. Leave just a few buds. You can also prune them during the growing season and they'll recover, although you’ll lose a few flowers until they do. To rejuvenate a trumpet vine, cut the entire plant back to 12 inches above the ground. New shoots will emerge from the base.

Shown here: First Editions 'Atomic Red' trumpet vine opens large, orange-red flowers that mature to red from summer into fall. It's hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

Trumpet Vine Is a Beautiful But Invasive Plant

How to Trim Arborvitae

Hardy in Zones 3 to 11, arborvitaes (Thuja) are evergreen shrubs available in many different sizes, shapes and colors. Remove dead, diseased or damaged branches as soon as you see them, but wait until your plant is at least two years old to prune it in the spring. Cut back the branches as desired but stop before you cut into old wood because it won't put out new leaves. Keep the base of the plant wider than the top, so sun can reach all the foliage. Don't take off more than 20 percent of the top of your plant. If it's totally out of shape or overgrown, consider replacing it. Arborvitaes don’t recover well from aggressive pruning.

Dwarf 'Pancake' arborvitae, shown here, is hardy in Zones 4 to 7 and has a dense, flat growth habit.

How to Trim Boston Ivy

Boston ivy is a fast-growing perennial vine hardy in Zones 4 to 8. This deciduous climber uses aerial roots to cling to surfaces, so it's great for arbors, fences and other structures. Unfortunately, the vines can reach 30 to 50 feet long and get out of control. Cut them back each year in early spring before the leaves emerge or, if you prefer, let it spread as a groundcover. Keep it out of your trees, since these aggressive vines can shade them too much.

Known botanically as Parthenocissus tricuspidate, Boston ivy leaves turn brilliant orange and red in autumn and bear blue-black berries that birds enjoy.

How to Prune Fruit Trees

Late winter to early spring is the best time to prune fruit trees, when their bare branches make it easier to see their structure and shape them. In general, your pruning goal is to open up the tree so that sunlight can reach all parts of it. Take out interior branches growing close together or those that have narrow angles to the trunk. Also, cut back water sprouts, upright shoots that don’t bear fruit, to the main branch.

If you have a young tree with just a few side branches, cut them back by one-quarter to encourage more branches. To reinvigorate an older fruit tree, take out any dead or crossed branches and cut very long branches back to their bases; don't leave stubs. Prune your tree again every year as needed but don’t take off more than one-third of its branches at any one time.

'Red Regent 'apple trees like this one bear crispy, medium to large fruits with a sweet-tart flavor.

When to Cut Back Chrysanthemum

Many people toss their potted chrysanthemums after their flowers fade, but you can coax varieties that are hardy in Zones 5 to 9 to rebloom. After flowering, cut their spent stems to 4 to 6 inches above the soil. By the following spring, new stems will emerge but they'll be tall and leggy. When they're 4 to 6 inches tall, pinch back the growing tips and more new stems will appear. When those are 6 inches tall, pinch them again. Repeat the process until mid-July so your mum has time to set flower buds for fall.

Hardy in Zones 6 to 11, Fire Halo Orange chrysanthemums grow 14 to 24 inches tall and 20 to 36 inches wide.

See More: Mums 101: When To Plant and How To Grow Chrysanthemums

How to Prune Roses

Know what kind of rose you have before you prune. In general, cut roses back in spring (remove dead, diseased and damaged canes at any time). Open up the center of hybrid roses by removing weak growth and canes that cross or rub against each other. Also, remove canes below the graft union (the knobby spot near the base of the plant). Leave four to five strong canes and prune them to 4 to 6 inches tall; make each cut 1/4-inch above a new, outfacing bud at a 45-degree angle.

Cut Knock Out Roses once a year to 12 inches tall and remove small or weak canes. Cut out one-half to one-third of the top growth on shrub roses growing on their own roots. Prune climbing roses after the blooms finish. Prune old-fashioned tea roses once a year, after the spring blooms fade or while the plants are dormant if they're repeat bloomers. Learn more about pruning roses.

Easy Elegance 'High Voltage' is a shrub rose with lovely yellow blooms. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, it grows 4 to 5 feet high and 2 to 4 feet wide.

See More: How to Grow Roses

11 Plants You Should Never Prune in Early Spring

Related To:

Shop This Look

Know When to Prune So You Don't Lose Your Blooms

When to Prune Lilacs

When to Prune Forsythia

When to Prune Azaleas

How to Prune Rhododendron

When to Prune Fothergilla

When to Prune Oakleaf Hydrangea

When to Prune Gardenias

When to Trim Sweetshrub

How to Prune Deutzia

When to Prune Weigela

When to Prune Honeysuckle

When to Prune Early Spring Blooming Clematis

Plants You Should Prune in Spring

When to Prune Summer and Fall Blooming Clematis

How to Trim Juniper

When to Cut Back Helianthus

When to Prune Red Twig Dogwood

And When to Trim Yellow Twig Dogwood

When to Prune Beautyberry

When to Prune Yews

When to Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans

When to Trim Boxwoods

When to Cut Back Coneflower

When to Trim Holly Bushes

When to Prune Rose of Sharon

When to Prune Euonymus

How to Prune Caryopteris

How to Prune Privet

When to Prune Butterfly Bush

When to Prune Crape Myrtle

When to Cut Back Sedum

How to Prune Trumpet Vine

How to Trim Arborvitae

How to Trim Boston Ivy

How to Prune Fruit Trees

When to Cut Back Chrysanthemum

How to Prune Roses

Late Winter and Early Spring Pruning Guide

Turn Your Shrubs into Trees

Pruning in Southern California

Pruning Russian Sage

When to Prune Hydrangeas: Expert Tips

Plants For Spring Color 13 Photos

Related Pages