Gardening expert shares which popular spring-flowering shrubs you should avoid pruning in winter to ensure beautiful blooms next year
Trimming plants not only enhances their blooming potential but also boosts your garden’s visual appeal. This task needs to be carried out at particular periods during the year, usually whilst the plant remains dormant, based on the specific type.
An expert has warned that certain plants mustn’t be trimmed during the winter months.
Hamid Ali, an experienced landscape gardener and horticultural specialist at Airtasker, explained: “You should avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, lilac and flowering currant.”
He elaborated on the risks, stating: “For example, if you prune them, the sensitive cut part of the plant will be exposed to harsh climate, which would provide unfavourable conditions to grow.”
The consequences can be severe, as Hamid warned: “This could then result in death from cutting it.
“Pruning these plants in winter can remove flower buds that have already formed, reduce or eliminate blooms for the coming spring.”
The specialist advises patience, recommending waiting until after flowering occurs, typically during late spring or early summer, before undertaking any trimming, reports the Express.
The gardener also cautioned against cutting evergreens unnecessarily, noting their vulnerability to frost damage.
Hamid added: “You can cut back specific plants in winter, but it’s mostly for maintenance and tidying up.”
Appropriate winter tasks involve removing dead or damaged sections, particularly on herbaceous perennials or deciduous shrubs such as roses.
Winter trimming can also be suitable for dormant trees including apple, pear, or maple varieties, provided temperatures aren’t too severe, allowing for shaping or removing compromised timber.
Garden enthusiasts are advised to remove old, decaying leaves from plants like hostas or sedums to ward off disease.
The expert cautioned: “However, avoid cutting back plants that are dormant or those with early spring blooms, like forsythia, to preserve flower buds.”
Additional winter tasks include sowing certain seeds for spring growth, aerating the lawn and sprucing up the patio.
