Pruning shrubs is an important part of care and maintenance of your landscape. But pruning shrubs needs to be done at the proper time to maintain the beauty and appearance of the plant. Pruning at the wrong time may results in the loss of flowers for the year because all the buds were cut off. This is why it is important for you to choose the proper time and to understand where the flower buds form.

Flower buds form on either new wood or on old wood depending on plant species. In general if the shrub produces flowers on new wood then you want to cut the shrub during the winter months before the plant comes out of dormancy and begins to bloom. If the shrub flowers on old wood then pruning should be done right after flowering

so as to not cut off next years flower buds.

Shrubs That Bloom On New Wood
These shrubs should be pruned during December January And February
Abelia
Buckeye, Bottlebrush
Butterfly bush
Crape myrtle
Hibiscus (Confederate rose)
Hibiscus (rose of Sharon, althea)
Hydrangea, fall blooming
Hydrangea (‘Annabelle’)
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort)
Nandina
Oleander
Rose, shrub
Smoke tree
Summer Blooming Spirea

Shrubs That Bloom On Old Wood
These plants all bloom on last years wood so they should be pruned right after they bloom. Do not wait too long as they flower buds form in the summer and you risk the chance of cutting them off.

Almond, flowering
Azalea, evergreen
Azalea, deciduous
Camellia
Daphne, winter
Deutzia
Forsythia
Fothergilla
Gardenia
Honeysuckle, winter
Hydrangea, oakleaf
Hydrangea, summer blooming
Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis)
Jasmine, winter
Kerria
Leucothoe
Lilac
Mockorange
Mountain laurel (Kalmia)
Osmanthus
Pieris
Pyracantha
Quince
Rhododendron
Rose, climbing
Spirea, spring blooming
Sweetshrub (Carolina allspice)
Sweetspire (itea)
Viburnum, deciduous
Viburnum, evergreen
Weigela
Willow, Pussy
Wintersweet (Chimonanthus)
Witch hazel

Foliage Shrubs
There are also shrubs that are grown for their foliage and the flowers if any are inconsequential. The general rule of thumb with these shrubs is to prune in the winter. A little snipping or grooming is okay during the growing season.

Anise (Illicium)
Arborvitae
Aucuba
Barberry
Boxwood
Cherry laurel
Cleyera
Cotoneaster
Eleagnus
Euonymus, deciduous
Euonymus, evergreen
Fatsia
Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick
Holly, evergreen
Holly, deciduous
Juniper
Laurel, English
Mahonia (Oregon Grapeholly)
Photinia
Pittosporum
Podocarpus
Privet (Ligustrum)
Sumac
Wax myrtle
Yew

These are some general guidelines for you to follow when taking care of the shrubs in your garden. If you have questions on specific plants you can always contact your local cooperative extension service and their Master Gardeners or a staff member will be happy to answer your questions or provide you with more information.