Pruning in Late Fall/Early Winter - Ask Extension
Timing was covered in your excellent "Pruning Trees and Shrubs" article. I had always heard the the best pruning and trimming times were La...
Knowledgebase
Pruning in Late Fall/Early Winter #868656
Asked May 16, 2024, 2:34 AM EDT
Timing was covered in your excellent "Pruning Trees and Shrubs" article. I had always heard the the best pruning and trimming times were Late Winter/Early Spring AND Late Fall/Early Winter. Is Late Fall/Early Winter almost as good?
When to prune
The late dormant season (late winter to early spring) is best for most pruning.
Olmsted County Minnesota
Expert Response
thank you for reaching out to ask2.extension.
Yes, late fall and early winter are good times to prune trees and shrubs.
Pruning in the winter is best because it allows the plant to recover while it's dormant and most leaves have fallen. Here are some tips for winter pruning:
Prune on a mild, dry day
Avoid pruning when the temperature drops below 25°F, as plants are more brittle in cold temperatures
Prune dead and diseased branches
Remove unwanted lower branches on all evergreen shrubs and trees
Remove overgrown and smaller branches to increase light
