Is it all right to prune all my shrubs and trees now or should I wait until later for some of them?

Most pruning work can be done safely now, but there is one job that should be done as soon as possible or postponed until later.

Spring flowering shrubs like azalea, rhododendron, pieris, Oregon grape and lilac start setting their new flower buds for the next spring in late August. Any pruning that is done after mid- to late August may remove some or most of those flower buds. The best time to prune spring flowering shrubs is shortly after they finish blooming.

Summer flowering shrubs like hydrangea, butterfly bush and rose of Sharon set their flower buds in spring and early summer. They are normally pruned in the fall after bloom.

Fruit trees are normally pruned in the fall, winter or e

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