Pruning is one of those gardening tasks that can make or break the look of your K . Done rightfulness , it keeps plant good for you , work them beautifully , and encourages fresh growth .
But here ’s the kicker — some plant really do n’t revalue being pruned in the fall . In fact , cut back certain plant at the incorrect meter can do more trauma than full .
If you ’re scratch to get your garden in shape as the cool weather condition sets in , hold off on trimming these 17 plants . Trust me , they ’ll give thanks you later !
1. Lilacs
Lilacs are the quintessential spring pratfall , known for their fragrant , colorful bunch of heyday . These beauties fix their buds in late summer , intend that if you cut them in the downslope , you ’re essentially cutting off next year ’s efflorescence .
If you desire your lilacs to stay happy and bursting with blossom , wait until after they blossom in spring to clip them .
Pro Tip : Stick to trimming after flowering to encourage better air circulation and prevent powdery mold .
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2. Hydrangeas (Bigleaf and Oakleaf)
While hydrangeas are humbled - sustainment and generally sluttish to care for , cut back them at the wrong time can do a lot of foiling — especially if you want those famous big efflorescence .
Bigleaf and Oakleaf hydrangea set their flower buds for next class during late summer , so fall pruning is a fully grown no - no . If you switch off them back now , you ’ll be sacrificing next year ’s bloom .
Pro Tip : Let the old blooms dry out over winter and prune them in the leap when raw growth starts to appear .
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3. Forsythia
Forsythias are like the early hiss of natural spring — they’re one of the first plants to put on a show with their smart yellow flowers . They flower on previous Mrs. Henry Wood , meaning that the flower bud are formed in the previous yr .
If you crop forsythia in the downfall , you ’ll be chop off next yr ’s flush before they even have a chance to shine . alternatively , wait until after they finish bloom in the natural spring to influence them up .
Pro Tip : Regular pruning after bloom help keep forsythia ’s dotty ontogenesis in check mark while further more flowers next time of year .
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4. Azaleas and Rhododendrons
azalea and rhododendrons are a gardener ’s favourite for their sporty , colorful blooms . But these unfolding shrubs are very particular about when they like to be pruned .
They set their buds during the late summer and early pin , so skip them back now would mean lose out on those stunning spring flowers . If you necessitate to prune , wait until in good order after they end blooming in the spring .
Pro Tip : Give these plants the blank they need to arise so you wo n’t have to crop them as often .
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5. Clematis (Spring Blooming Varieties)
Clematis can be a bit crafty because unlike varieties flower at unlike time . If you have a leaping - blooming clematis , like Clematis montana or Clematis alpina , you emphatically do n’t want to prune it in the autumn .
These varieties blossom on old Sir Henry Joseph Wood , so fall pruning will remove the bud that would turn into next time of year ’s flowers .
Pro Tip : If you ’re unsure which eccentric of clematis you have , hold off until after it blooms in spring to prune , just to be secure .
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6. Wisteria
Wisteria vines can summate a magical skin senses to your garden with their cascading purple flowers . But do n’t get their beauty fool you — they’re tough plant life and need to be pruned carefully .
Wisteria bring about flowers on former wood , and fall pruning can disrupt next year ’s blooms . or else , prune after flowering in late spring or former summer .
Pro Tip : Regular summertime pruning will aid control the size of your wisteria and encourage more blooms .
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7. Magnolias
Magnolias , especially the early on - blooming types , set their bud well before winter . rationalize them in the fall can overcharge you of the stunning blooms you ’ve been waiting for all wintertime long .
To stave off this , prune magnolias right after they flower , and only dress what ’s necessary .
Pro Tip : Magnolias do n’t need a circumstances of pruning , so focus on removing any idle or damaged wood rather than cutting back for shape .
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8. Flowering Quince
Flowering quince bush is another early blunder that sets its flower buds on former wood . If you lop it in the dip , you ’ll likely end up with a shrub full of folio but no flowers get along leap .
hold back until after the flower slicing to give it a trimming .
Pro Tip : Keep an eye out for suckers that grow from the pedestal of the plant . Remove these to boost healthier growth .
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9. Spring-Blooming Bulbs
While medulla oblongata like tulips , daffodils , and crocuses are n’t technically “ prunable , ” it ’s crucial not to cut back their foliage too betimes .
After they blossom , the folio meet zip for next year ’s flowers . If you trim them back before they ’ve had a chance to yellow and die out back of course , you ’re cutting off their energy source .
Pro Tip : Let the leaf kick the bucket back completely before you strip it up . Your patience will be rewarded with enceinte blooms next spring .
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10. Peonies
Peonies are beloved for their large , fragrant flowers , but pruning them in the declivity is a big mistake . Peonies take metre to go dormant before any press cutting is done .
If you cut back too betimes , you risk introducing diseases or harming the plant ’s ability to survive the winter .
Pro Tip : Wait until the first intemperate frost to cut back peonies , and check that to polish off any dead foliage to keep fungal issue .
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11. Camellias
Camellias bloom in the cooler months , and they determine their bloom bud during the late summer .
rationalise them in the free fall is like hitting the reset push on all that difficult work . or else , hold off until after they finish blooming in late wintertime or early spring to prune them lightly .
Pro Tip : camelia prefer to be cut sparingly . focalize on remove any dead or damaged branches and leave the balance alone .
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12. Spirea (Spring Blooming Varieties)
Spirea is a democratic selection for gardener who want a splash of coloring in their yard . But for natural spring - blossom form like nuptial coronal spirea , fall pruning can mean losing those delicate white blooms next twelvemonth .
Like many other plant on this inclination , spiraea blooms on old wood , so prune it after it bloom .
Pro Tip : Light crop after blooming boost a second flush of increase and help asseverate the plant ’s shape .
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13. Viburnum
Viburnums are versatile bush that grow clusters of fragrant flowers and often coloured berries .
But if you trim them in the fall , you ’re likely to trim off the bud that would become prime or yield next season . For most viburnums , it ’s good to look until after they bloom in the spring to prune .
Pro Tip : If your genus Viburnum produces berry , wait until after the Charles Edward Berry have dropped or been deplete by birds before pruning .
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14. Mock Orange
Mock orange is known for its citrus tree - odorous flowers , but if you prune it in the fall , you ’ll turn a loss the heyday buds that have already organise for next year .
To keep this fragrant shrub blooming year after year , expect until after it peak in the fountain to trim it back .
Pro Tip : Light snip after flowering will help oneself keep its shape without give blooms .
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15. Weigela
Weigela is a dependable shrub for adding coloring to your garden with its bright pink or red flower . But if you prune it in the fall , you ’re hack off the buds that will bloom next season .
Wait until after it finishes flower in later springtime to prune , and you ’ll get the full display of flowers .
Pro Tip : Deadheading spent flowers can promote a 2nd stave of blooms .
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16. Climbing Roses
Climbing roses are a bit different from your typical rosaceous bushes . They bloom on previous Ellen Price Wood , which means that fall pruning can severely impact their efflorescence potential for next class .
If you want to prune them , waitress until after the first bloom in spring .
Pro Tip : Focus on removing utter , damage , or crossing limb to keep climbing roses healthy and well - shape .
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17. Fruit Trees (Apple, Cherry, Pear)
It ’s tempting to prune yield trees in the fall to tidy things up , but doing so can induce novel emergence that wo n’t have time to harden off before wintertime .
This can make your fruit tree diagram more susceptible to icing damage . Wait until late wintertime or other spring , when the trees are still sleeping , to cut back yield tree for better health and fruit product .
Pro Tip : A near rule of thumb is to prune fruit Tree when they ’re dormant to foreshorten the jeopardy of disease and plague .
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Fall is a great fourth dimension to roll down in the garden , but when it comes to pruning , timing is everything .
For these 17 plant , patience is key — hold until the right season to prune , and you ’ll be rewarded with healthy emergence and plenty of blooms when springtime wind around .
