Correct timing is essential for pruning success and February is a great time to PRUNE. Except for spring flowering plants, the best time to prune most shrubs and trees is in late winter when they are in a completely dormant state. Pruning during dormancy greatly reduces the chances of shock to the plant.
Before you start chopping away, give some thought to your pruning objectives. Does the plant need a simple trimming or has it gotten so big that it needs to be scaled down to a more manageable size? Do you want a shaped, formal appearance or do you prefer an open, more natural look? Many times, only dead branches or old, dried flower heads need to be removed.
When pruning, make sharp, clean cuts at a 30 to 45 degree angle, above some growth on the plant, such as a bud, a stem or a branch. To prevent damage to your plants and tools, always use the right tool for the right job. HAND PRUNERS are used to cut branches no larger than the circumference of your thumb. LOPPERS are used on branches up to three inches in diameter. For anything larger, use a PRUNING SAW.
Pruning modifies plant growth. This is important for several reasons. Pruning helps plants to stay healthy and vigorous by removing dead, injured or diseased wood; it encourages larger quantities of flowers and berries on certain plants; it reshapes plants; it brings overgrown plants in bounds and controls their size; it can improve the structure of a plant; it stimulates new growth; and it can cause new branches or limbs to grow in a certain direction.
When a plant is pruned, new growth will develop at the site of the cut. For the plants to become better branched or to achieve a desired shape, you must determine where you want the new growth to occur. Don't just trim the top part of the plant. If you do, the new growth will appear mainly at the top, creating a "lollipop" effect. To keep your plants well-branched from top to bottom, make random pruning cuts at different heights and locations throughout the plant.
Some plants have special pruning requirements. For example, plants such as CRAPE MYRTLES produce their blooms on new wood and pruning encourages the development of new wood.
Do not prune SPRING FLOWERING SHRUBS and TREES at this time of year. Azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, forsythia and other plants that bloom in the spring set their flower buds in July for the following spring. If you prune now, you will cut off the flower buds and sacrifice the spring blooms. If pruning is necessary, cut back spring flowering plants and trees right after they finish their bloom cycle.
ROSES should be pruned in late February or early March when the "eyes" or buds on the canes begin to swell and turn red. Climbing roses bloom on older wood, so prune them sparingly.