3 Plants You Should Prune Before Winter Begins

Perennial plants bring life to your yard year after year, but you’ll need to protect them from the harsh winter weather if you want them to look their best come spring. Pruning—the practice of cutting back branches, buds, or spent flowers to make way for regrowth when the warmer weather returns—is one way to give your plants a fresh start. And, for many plant varieties, right now, in the late fall, is the best time to perform this crucial aspect of maintenance.

If you’ve got your shears at the ready, but need more guidance to get going with confidence, a little information goes a long way. Here’s a simple guide to pruning three key plants this fall, before winter can damage your most prized perennials.

1. Roses

Why prune roses for winter?

Pruning roses before winter helps protect them