Pruning is one of those gardening tasks that can make or recrudesce the look of your yard . Done rightfulness , it keep open works healthy , influence them attractively , and encourages new growth .
But here ’s the kicker — some plants really do n’t appreciate being pruned in the drop . In fact , cut back certain industrial plant at the wrong time can do more harm than good .
If you ’re itching to get your garden in shape as the cool atmospheric condition sets in , hold off on garnish these 17 plant . hope me , they ’ll thank you later !
1. Lilacs
Lilacs are the quintessential give bloomers , known for their fragrant , coloured clusters of flowers . These beauties mark their buds in late summer , meaning that if you prune them in the drop , you ’re fundamentally cutting off next year ’s blossoms .
If you require your lilacs to stick around glad and bursting with flowers , wait until after they bloom in spring to prune them .
Pro Tip : Stick to trim after flower to promote better air circulation and prevent powdery mildew .
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2. Hydrangeas (Bigleaf and Oakleaf)
While hydrangeas are low - maintenance and more often than not easy to worry for , snip them at the wrong time can cause a lot of defeat — especially if you want those famous turgid blooms .
Bigleaf and Oakleaf hydrangea set their flower buds for next year during tardy summertime , so settle pruning is a big no - no . If you disregard them back now , you ’ll be sacrificing next year ’s efflorescence .
Pro Tip : allow the sometime blooms dry out out over winter and clip them in the spring when new growth starts to seem .
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3. Forsythia
Forsythias are like the former birds of spring — they’re one of the first plants to put on a show with their bright xanthous flowers . They bloom on honest-to-goodness Natalie Wood , mean that the flower bud are shape in the old yr .
If you prune forsythia in the fall , you ’ll be chopping off next yr ’s blooms before they even have a chance to shine . Instead , wait until after they finish blooming in the outpouring to shape them up .
Pro Tip : even pruning after bloom help keep forsythia ’s hazardous ontogenesis in check while encourage more peak next season .
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4. Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Azaleas and rhododendrons are a nurseryman ’s favorite for their showy , colorful blooms . But these flowering shrubs are very particular about when they like to be pruned .
They set their bud during the later summer and former surrender , so cutting them back now would mean lose out on those stunning natural spring bloom . If you need to prune , wait until right after they finish blooming in the spring .
Pro Tip : Give these industrial plant the space they need to grow so you wo n’t have to rationalize them as often .
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5. Clematis (Spring Blooming Varieties)
Clematis can be a bit tricky because different sort blossom at different times . If you have a spring - blooming clematis , like Clematis montana or Clematis alpina , you definitely do n’t desire to prune it in the fall .
These change blossom on old wood , so fall down pruning will remove the bud that would turn over into next season ’s flowers .
Pro Tip : If you ’re unsure which type of clematis you have , await until after it bloom in spring to prune , just to be safe .
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6. Wisteria
Wisteria vine can add a witching hint to your garden with their cascading purplish flower . But do n’t get their beauty put on you — they’re tough plants and need to be pruned carefully .
Wisteria produces heyday on honest-to-goodness Grant Wood , and fall pruning can disrupt next year ’s blooms . rather , clip after blossom in recent bounce or early summer .
Pro Tip : Regular summer pruning will assist control the size of your wisteria and advance more blooms .
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7. Magnolias
Magnolias , especially the early on - blossom types , set up their bud well before wintertime . Pruning them in the fall can rob you of the sensational bloom you ’ve been waiting for all wintertime long .
To avoid this , prune magnolias right after they bloom , and only dress what ’s necessary .
Pro Tip : Magnolias do n’t necessitate a lot of pruning , so rivet on removing any dead or damaged Sir Henry Wood rather than cutting back for shape .
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8. Flowering Quince
Flowering quince is another other bloomer that jell its flower buds on old wood . If you prune it in the crepuscule , you ’ll likely terminate up with a shrub full of leaves but no flowers come natural spring .
Wait until after the blooms slicing to give it a trim .
Pro Tip : Keep an middle out for lollipop that acquire from the base of the plant . Remove these to boost healthier growth .
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9. Spring-Blooming Bulbs
While electric light like tulips , Narcissus pseudonarcissus , and crocuses are n’t technically “ prunable , ” it ’s important not to cut back their foliage too early on .
After they bloom , the farewell gather energy for next year ’s flowers . If you cut back them back before they ’ve had a probability to yellow and die back naturally , you ’re cut off their energy rootage .
Pro Tip : Let the foliage die back wholly before you pick it up . Your patience will be honor with braggart blooms next spring .
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10. Peonies
Peonies are beloved for their expectant , fragrant flower , but pruning them in the fall is a big misapprehension . Peonies need time to go inactive before any slip is done .
If you prune too early , you risk introduce diseases or harm the plant ’s power to survive the winter .
Pro Tip : Wait until the first hard hoar to cut back peonies , and make certain to take away any beat leaf to foreclose fungal issues .
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11. Camellias
Camellias bloom in the cooler months , and they set their blossom buds during the tardy summer .
Pruning them in the fall is like tally the reset button on all that tough work . rather , wait until after they finish blooming in late winter or former spring to cut them gently .
Pro Tip : Camellias choose to be pruned meagerly . Focus on removing any dead or damage limb and leave the relaxation alone .
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12. Spirea (Spring Blooming Varieties)
Spirea is a pop choice for gardeners who want a splashing of color in their yard . But for spring - blooming varieties like bridal coronal spirea , light pruning can intend miss those delicate white efflorescence next year .
Like many other plants on this listing , spirea blooming on sometime wood , so cut it after it flowers .
Pro Tip : Light snip after flower encourages a second bang of growth and aid keep the plant ’s shape .
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13. Viburnum
Viburnums are versatile shrubs that grow clusters of fragrant flowers and often colorful berry .
But if you dress them in the downfall , you ’re likely to hack off the buds that would become flowers or yield next season . For most viburnums , it ’s serious to hold off until after they bloom in the springtime to prune .
Pro Tip : If your viburnum give rise Chuck Berry , waitress until after the Chuck Berry have dropped or been eaten by snort before dress .
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14. Mock Orange
Mock orange is known for its citrus fruit - scented flowers , but if you prune it in the fall , you ’ll miss the peak bud that have already formed for next yr .
To keep this fragrant bush blooming yr after year , wait until after it flower in the spring to trim it back .
Pro Tip : Light pruning after flowering will help maintain its configuration without sacrifice blooms .
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15. Weigela
Weigela is a reliable bush for adding color to your garden with its bright pink or red-faced flowers . But if you prune it in the fall , you ’re cut off the bud that will bloom next season .
hold off until after it finishes blooming in previous spring to prune , and you ’ll get the full showing of blossom .
Pro Tip : Deadheading spent flowers can encourage a second round of efflorescence .
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16. Climbing Roses
climb rose wine are a bit different from your typical rose bushes . They bloom on old wood , which intend that autumn pruning can badly impact their florescence potentiality for next class .
If you need to prune them , hold off until after the first heyday in spring .
Pro Tip : Focus on removing dead , damage , or scotch branch to keep climbing roses healthy and well - shaped .
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17. Fruit Trees (Apple, Cherry, Pear)
It ’s tempting to clip fruit tree in the fall to tidy affair up , but doing so can excite raw growth that wo n’t have time to inure off before winter .
This can make your yield Tree more susceptible to frost damage . expect until recent wintertime or early fountain , when the trees are still dormant , to prune fruit tree for better health and fruit yield .
Pro Tip : A good rule of thumb is to prune fruit tree when they ’re dormant to reduce the peril of disease and pests .
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Fall is a dandy clip to nose down in the garden , but when it come up to pruning , timing is everything .
For these 17 works , forbearance is key — wait until the right season to prune , and you ’ll be rewarded with healthy growth and plenty of flower when spring rolls around .
