February is the last best month for winter pruning, for many but not all trees and shrubs. Generally, pruning when deciduous trees are dormant during the winter months is the optimum time to remove unwanted wood as trees are not actively growing. Leaves have been shed, revealing shape and any growth that needs correction. Winter months are also the best time to prune evergreens and coniferous species that keep their foliage.
However, some trees and shrubs should not be pruned in the winter months.
Prune when dormant:
Red oaks, burr oaks, and live oaks. Mid-winter and up through February is the time to prune oaks. Completion of red oak pruning cuts definitely should be done by early February, other oaks by the end of February. Waiting too late to prune red oaks may risk infection of the oak wilt fungus. The main vectors of the fungus are beetles, therefore, pruning cuts should be made when beetle activity is low. Coat pruning cuts with sealant as an obstacle to beetles entering pruning wounds.
Crape myrtles. Never top a crape myrtle. Remove unwanted branches and shoots growing internally from the crown; yet waiting to prune until spring keeps the attractive seed pods throughout the winter. Seed pods can be clipped early in the spring at the first sign vegetative growth is resuming; remove pods at the base of the pod clusters.
Fruit trees. Definitely prune when tree is dormant before buds leaf out, when branches and limbs are visible. Prune to promote a strong framework, increase light penetration to optimize fruit set and support fruit development. Dormant pruning allows healing of wounds before trees become physiologically active.
Lawn trees and summer-flowering shrubs and vines. Maintain natural growth habit by eliminating spindly interior growth, watersprouts (vigorous upright shoots arising from above-the-ground growth), suckers (upright shoots arising from root base), and parallel branches.
Conifers. Little is required to maintain natural growth habit. Unwanted or dead branches should be removed individually and cut back completely to the origin.
Roses. These are the last plants to be pruned, usually in March but before new growth resumes.
Prune after flowering: Flowering wood of spring blooming ornamentals is synthesized on previous year’s growth. Blooms will be eliminated if pruned when dormant. Wait until after flowering to prune spring-blooming ornamentals like Forsythia, Quince, Spirea, Syringa, Viburnum.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
