When to Prune Shrubs For Better Blooming: Trim Shrubs at the Right Time So You Don’t Cut Off the Flowers

Knowing when a shrub blooms will solve the problem.

In Rhode Island (USDA Zone 6), the forsythia blooms in April.

In this article

Spring Flowering Shrubs

#1.

forsythia plant –source

Forsythia

#2.

Pieris

#3.

Rhododendron

#4.

Azalea

#5. lilac (Syringa)

#6.

Summer or Fall Flowering Shrubs

#1.

Spiraea

#2.

forsythia plant –source

Weigela

#3.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia)

#4.

Blue mist shrub (spigela)

#5.

Pieris –Source

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus)

#6.

Cut these shrubs back as hard as necessary just as they begin to leaf out.

Use small hand clippers or loppers to just cut the branches that need to come off.

rhododendron –Source

Yew (Taxus)

#2.

Juniper (Juniperus)

#3.

Pines (Pinus)

#4.

azalea –Source

Spruce (Picea)

These should be pruned when they are dormant.

Here in USDA zone 6 that means mid-December, January and February.

The act of pruning kick starts a chemical reaction in the plant that sends out new growth.

lilac (Syringa) –Source

Generally, the older hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) can be pruned after flowering.

mock orange (Philadelphus)

spiraea –Source

weigela

butterfly bush (Buddleia) –Source

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) –Source

Summersweet (Clethra) –Source

Yew (Taxus) –Source

Juniper (Juniperus) –Source

Pines (Pinus) –Source

Spruce (Picea)

Hydrangeas –Source