February is usually a great month to get out and prune trees and shrubs. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is, if the plant flowers in the spring like azalea or forsythia, wait until after the flowers to prune the plant back.

If pruning is on the list of garden chores, remember to only remove about 1/3 of the plant to keep the plant healthy. Crossing branches or branches that are dead, dying or diseased should be the first ones removed.

Roses are a different story. They do best when they are rejuvenated every year by removing the oldest canes to the ground and leaving the 1-to-3 year-old canes cut back to 12 to 18 inches depending on the type of rose.