I’m still getting questions about to prune specific plants. A rule of thumb is that if it blooms on old wood (it blooms before new growth begins) then wait until after it flowers before pruning. This allows you to enjoy the flowers and it allows the plant to show what it can do in the spring. If you aren’t sure if your plant needs to be pruned during the dormant season or in the spring, look to pruning calendars that suggest when the best time is to prune many of the ornamental trees and shrubs that grow in our gardens.

Since we have had some very cold temperatures this winter, it would be good to look at some of the tender plants in the landscape and see if they have experienced cold injury. An easy way to tell if those tender stems have been injured by the cold temperatures is to look closely at the stem. If the stem appears brown, tan, or dried out and has ripples that go up the stem, then it has been damaged by the cold.

Keep in mind that some plants, especially evergreen plants like junipers and boxwoods may have some leaf and even stem discoloration from the cold, but the stem itself is still very flexible. The flexibility of the stem is usually an indication that the stem is still alive and there is no need to prune.

If you find dead wood, prune it out to prevent any disease organisms that might get into the dead wood from moving into the live wood. Plus, it looks better not having the dead wood in the plant.