Advice on what to Prune in July (and what not)

What to Prune in July (and what not)

Summer is best spent looking at the beautiful garden from a shady lounge chair. However, there are still a few tasks that should be done. One of these is a bit of pruning. Just a bit. Not all shrubs should be pruned this time of year. Most spring flowering shrubs have set buds for next year–pruning will only remove them. However, a few snips on some flowering shrubs will increase chances of a re-bloom before the summer is over. Also, for flowers next year.

Here are 10 that can be pruned now, and a few that can wait till late winter or next spring.

If you're wondering which plants may be pruned now and which should wait, leave a question in comments below. We’ll get back to you asap!

Pink Beauty Potentilla

Potentilla is a good choice for summer pruning to encourage flowering right into fall. Prolific bloomer; flower color will soften when nights are extremely hot. Versatile shrub for borders, along walks, low hedges and as a mass or foundation planting. Zone: 3 – 7

Natchez Mock Orange
Zone: 4 – 7

Spring flowering shrub noted for the flowers which carry a light fragrance much like the scent of orange blossoms. Full sun.

Double Flowered Japanese Rose
Zone: 5 – 9

Kerria japonica like this one with masses of brilliant, double yellow flowers can be pruned now. Partial shade to partial sun.

Nikko Blush Deutzia
Zone: 5 – 8

Deutzia like this compact, low grower with pink blooms and ruby fall leaves, should be pruned in summer. Partial to full sun.

Lil’ Sizzle™ Spirea
Zone: 4 – 9

Prune summer blooming spirea (Spirea japonica) for a second flush of color. Others, wait till next spring. Partial shade to full sun.

Chenault Viburnum
Zone: 5 – 9

Spring blooming viburnum are pruned in late winter, but its okay to prune Viburnum x burkwoodii now for shape. Partial to full sun.

Double Take Orange™ Flowering Quince
Zone: 5 – 9

If you didn’t get around to pruning there’s still a open window. Partial to full sun.

Grace N’ Grit™ Pink BiColor Rose
Zone: 4 – 9

Reblooming roses (including Knock Out) benefit from summer pruning for a second big crop of flowers. Full sun.

Magical® Gold Forsythia
Zone: 5 – 8

If you missed the optimal post-spring bloom pruning, go ahead and prune now for flowers next year. Full sun.

Black Knight Butterfly Bush
Zone: 5 – 9

Hard prune in spring, but a mid-summer pruning helps with size and late summer re-bloom. Partial to full sun.

WAIT ON PRUNING THESE!

Forest Pansy Redbud
Zone: 5 – 9

Now is not the time for pruning Cercis canadensis. We want flowers that bridge the gap between winter and spring!

Blue Balloon® Bluebeard
Zone: 5 – 9

Holster the clippers when it comes to these summer-into-fall shrubs. Prune after they flower but before the first frost. Full sun.

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle
Zone: 6 – 9

Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so prune them in early spring before they break dormancy (and not in fall!). Full sun.

WHAT ABOUT HYDRANGEAS?

We know when to prune hydrangeas can be confusing. When it comes to pruning in summer, you will be attending only to three types–one sooner, the others later.

(1.) Mophead or French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) which can be cut back after they finish flowering. For most of us, that is in August or September.

(2.) Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) which requires very little pruning. Although if you need to improve the shape of the plant, prune in later summer or early fall (August - September).

(3.) Reblooming hydrangeas (typically the mophead types) bloom on growth from the current year as well as last year’s growth. All they really need is deadheading spent flowers and pruning out dead or weak stems. You can do that anytime.

Read here for much more on when to prune hydrangeas.

CRAFTSMEN'S TIPS

Here at the nursery we’re constantly pruning something. Here are a few of our tips for success:

Prune in early morning when your plants are fully recovered from the heat of the previous day.
Water after pruning so stems are fully hydrated and happy.
Remember that pruning can open up plants to pests and diseases. Only prune what has to be pruned!
Use sharp pruners–dull pruners can leave ragged cuts or crushed stems which are not good for your plants.
Clean your tools before making the first cut and clean again when you move from plant to plant. Finally, clean when you are done with this task.
Before wading into those beds and borders, look for nasties such as poison ivy, bees nests and snakes. You’ll be glad you did!
For the best housekeeping, discard all prunings including leaves and branches.

A FEW PLANTS TO PRUNE

2018-07-05 10:55:00

Michele Gagen

HI, We bought severl perennial pansies this spring and they did beautifulluy until recently, even in the heat. What should we do with them now? Should we cut them back ? They're getting leggy and stuck in between things that have grown taller.

DIANNA

Love your knowledge.. its help me to become a master gardener in the making

Flo

So many of your suggestions for garden care and planting I suggestions are for zones smaller than 8 or 9 where I live. Would appreciate Southern suggestions and hints i.e. zones 8 and 9. Thank you

John M Frossard

I LOVE the tips. I also love Monrovia plants and have a garden almost falloff them.

Karen dorward

Weigela. When and how to prune

Jeanie Affatato

I have weeping redbud and cherry that almost to ground how far back should I Grimaldi have lilacs tree that some of limbs are completely dead. Should I cut all dead out or replace the tree which is 12 yrs old.

Judy Melton

When should I prune my golden thread cypress?

PATRICIA BLEWITT

Thank you for your beautiful web site .The amount of information is so wonderful and I am not a great gardener but love being in the flower beds . I have had to give up most flowers and turn to shrubbery as I had back surgery in February and this will not allow me to spend time bending . I am finding out there are some beautiful flowering shrubs so am very much enjoying this type of gardening . Thank you for all the wonderful information .

Janet sosh

Could I prune my Chinese fringe bushthis summer? Bit unruly

Marilyn Maiorana

When is best to prune Rose of Sharon? I pruned mine late winter/early spring. So far, no buds. Also, I purchased three ever bloom hydrangeas. First season they bloomed over and over. Past two season, healthy leaves but they have never bloomed again. They have been fed. One year with hydrangea food, last year with Holly Tone per advice from nursery owner.

Jeanine Collins

Great information! Thank you!

Patricia Cartwright

Your newsletters are so helpful! thanks for helping out home gardeners (like me) who are always trying to learn ways to improve our yards.

Joyce

Should Dogwood trees ever be pruned and if so, when?

Kathleen Connaughton

Hi! I planted two blue balloon blue beards two years ago, zone 9, full sun, good drainage. About a week ago one of them started drying up in areas, turning grayish color so I scraped with my fingernail a stalk which was green. I went ahead and cut a third off of the affected area. The plant is still looking bad. The one right next to it is fine. I had also planted two more this Spring to create a hedge. The Bluebeards have been spectacular and I am at a loss as to what is happening. Any thoughts? And thanks! I live in Richmond, TX and buy a lot of my plants at The Arbor Gate in Tomball, TX.

Tom

What is best time to trim box woods?

Maureen Workman

Would you please show pictures of the different hydrangeas with and if your are to trim them please. I have a few with great green leaves but few flowers. And as always thank you for shar8ng your information with us gardeners.

Esther Pounds

Is it too late to prune azaleas?

Lorene

I just read your newsletter for the first time and clicked through to your summer pruning article. I want to congratulate you on your content on both fronts. I found them extremely helpful, well written, and nicely designed. Your photos are beautiful. It's a pleasure to be able to read a newsletter and webpage that feels like a magazine and not get bombarded with popups or busy unwanted details in the margins. Your website is now my go-to source for gardening information. Thank you!

john seghers

what about pine & jap. mannoses??

Dorette Putonti

Kate, could you tell me about flowering shrubs that rabbits do not like.They seem to be eating my spirea and pretty much everything I plant, especially when there is new growth. Thanks

Irene

Thx, very helpful!

Bob Parker

Whens the best time of year to prune red currant bushes?

Martha Wilson

I have been looking for blue chiffon rose of Sharon for 2 years...I would like a nursery shrub, not a twig..Home Depot advertises them, but then they say you have to order thru them. Are there ANY nurseries in Louisiana that grow them?

Tommie Slayden

Should Drift roses be pruned after their first bloom?

Bill

What about azaleas?

Susan femia

Box woods Butterfly bush When to prune

Lisa Premo

I have a camellia sasanqua that has gotten out of control. I figured that it should only be pruned I late winter/early spring after it has finished blooming. Am I able to prune it now instead?

Kevin C. Bolinski

When is the best time to prune a Coral bark japanese maple. Thank you, Kevin

RobertC

Here in the Los Angeles area, I do my main pruning on both my crepe myrtles and vitex in spring before their leaves emerge, but then I do a second light pruning (really just a deadheading) after the first blooms have faded. This usually brings about a second wave of blooms after a month or so, which lasts well into fall.

Fran Hall

I have a viburnum that looks like your Chenault, tho' that is probably not its name. It is quite lanky but I've been afraid to cut it back. Will it benefit from some pruning or a total cut down to maybe 24"? It's about 2 years old.

Kal

When can I prune Camellias

Cathy Walker

Most helpful, thank you

Du-Anna

Confused...lilacs should or should not be pruned after flowering? Not the older varieties but the smaller forms

Du-Anna

Confused...lilacs should or should not be pruned after flowering? Not the older varieties but the smaller forms No have not already commented!!

Kenz

I'm such a newbie gardener, with high hopes. Your articles are very helpful. Could you tell me please when I should be pruning the following. Also, if I were to move these plants to a better location, would they also be during a similar time? Thank you! Salix Nana purpurea, Ceanothus Victoria, Redtwig Dogwood, Lavandula Stoechas, Physocarpus Diablo, Passiflora Caerulea Viburnum Bodnantense 'Pink Dawn'

Mardy Johnson

Hi Kate. I am looking for the difinitive book on how to prune plants, trees, shrubs etc. Im a novice gardener and want to learn how to maintain the garden that I am creating.

John Gritman

Thank you for the information on pruning. I was trying to figure out when to prune the mock orange planted earlier this year. I got my answer! "Grace 'N Grit" for a rose? Good choice, my nickname for more than 65 years has been Grit! Ha! You may also have solved a problem for me. I have been stuck with respect to shrubs for one area of the house garden. And there they are on your pruning list. Thanks again.

Donna Moore

when is the best time to prune/shape a shoshoni viburnum and how?

Amy Rudolph

How about fruit trees like cherry?

Amanda Dilley

What about pruning drift roses? We have 15 that have been thru their first flush and some have had 2nd blooms.

Laura

I have lavender bushes and salvia plants that came from 1 gallon containers. I was told by the nursery employers to deadhead the flowers once they look like bees are done with them or they look brownish. Every time I deadhead them, they look like I did something wrong. How often should I be deadheading these plants? Please help.

Betty

Hi, My kerria did not bloom this yr. can I still prune it now? it has really spread and is taking up a whole lot of space!! used to really love it. oh, and it has proven to be a Japanese beetles magnet for me. btw, i am zone 5. thanks.

Betty

how about agapanthus that are in lots and have never bloomed? I was keeping them potbound,but then read somewhere that in lots they like more room. I'm so confused!!?

Jackie Lennert

I have a large overgrown Lilac bush/tree that is blocking the electric company from getting to the meter. I want to prune the back part of the tree but I am unsure of what to do and also of killing it.

Marian W Hickey

8058 Quinault Rd

Marian W Hickey

Have enjoyed your posts. Helpful. Miss seeing your place now that I left So. Cal for Blaine WA.

jean ott

When is it a good time to prune or trim back hawthorns?

Patsy Butcher

When to prune Yesterday Today & Tomorrow?

Wayne Knox

i bought a Peachtree that is full off Peaches ,but most off them are spoiled with some kind off Insect 'I never pruned that Tree it is 3 years old ,the Peaches are small ,I don't know how or when it needs to be pruned ,can you help . thank you Wayne Knox

Esther

Can azaleas be pruned?

Marti Paul

They look beautiful, and I am anxious to try them. Is it too late to plan this year - perhaps late summer/early fall?

Linda Lilley

Can I lightly prune Variagated Hebe now? They face north & just finished blooming but are aggressively taking too much space on my sidewalk. Thank you.

Sheila Schoening

Thank you for your explanation on better pruning. I have azaleas which are more than 20 years old and bloom twice a year. I do prune these (I hope this is OK) as they have a tendency to grow very large. My bushes are over 4 feet in height. Three of my bushes I have let grow on the east side of the house and they are nearly 5 feet high. I have no idea what kind these are; older and not a hybrid I am assuming. Any suggestions as I would appreciate your response.

RICH HAGERTY

when is the best time or season to plant the dwarf golden arborvitae ?

Karen Eadon

I have a clematis that did not bloom well this year. We had cut it back 2 yrs ago and the next year, it was amazing. But this year, it did not produce well. Should I be cutting this back every year? And if so, what time of year should I do this?

K. Faith Williams-Terrell

I love your information about all plants and trees, bushes and ground over, soil, etc. is there a wayI can get plants that take shade, part shade , full sun, clay and mixed soils, water, fertilizer, pruning times etc. I own a duplex, A small area in front with mostly full sun,; turns to long area against the wall Rhodadendra, small Itoh peony, Iris and daffodil bulbs (old clumps), Azaleas on each end. Morning sun leading to part shade turning toward the back patio. The Ati has a block wall holding Sugar maple and Japanese Cherry. These have Long limbs hanging over the patio causing shade, howeverbeautiful blooms during the Spring. I travel during midto late May and return in mid-September. What plants should I plant to survive those months, prevent weeds and leaf eaters.

Please login to comment.

Don't have an account?