Avoid Pruning These Plants Until Fall: A List of 7 Plants That Should Not Be Pruned During Summer
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Summer is here, and with it comes the need for careful pruning in the garden. But not all plants require the same treatment. Here's a handy guide to help you maintain your garden's health and maximize blooming.
Woody Shrubs and Trees
Pruning certain woody shrubs and trees during summer can lead to undesirable consequences. These plants typically set their flower buds on old growth, or they are susceptible to diseases when cut at this time.
- Oak trees: Pruning in summer invites oak wilt, a fungal disease spread by beetles attracted to fresh cuts. It's best to prune oak trees in winter to avoid damage.
- Rhododendrons: These beautiful blooms set next year’s flower buds shortly after blooming, so summer pruning removes those buds and can delay flowering for years. Prune right after flowering in spring instead.
- Abelia: These shrubs bloom on current season’s growth, so summer pruning removes buds and reduces flowering next season.
- Crape myrtles: These summer bloomers delay blooming and raise disease risk when pruned in summer. Wait until winter dormancy for major pruning; deadheading spent blooms is okay.
- Lilacs: Like rhododendrons, cut after flowering because summer pruning reduces bloom.
- Oleander, Flowering Dogwood, Potentilla, Smoke Bush: These also do better when not pruned in summer to avoid loss of blooms or disease susceptibility.
Herbs
When it comes to herbs, light pruning can be beneficial.
- Chamomile and cilantro can be lightly deadheaded or pinched in summer to promote growth and prevent bolting, but heavy pruning is not recommended.
Other Shrubs
Some shrubs benefit from light pruning after flowering to control size and encourage blooms next year. However, avoid heavy cuts in the peak summer growth period.
- Honeysuckle can be pruned lightly after flowering (often late July) to control size and encourage blooms next year, but avoid heavy cuts in the peak summer growth period.
Specific Shrubs and Trees
- Butterfly bush can get a little unruly without trimming, though, which can be done aggressively in spring and still get a large, flowering shrub for summer.
- Crepe myrtle provides an abundance of gorgeous summer flowers in red, pink, or white. Pruning crepe myrtle in summer delays blooming, so it's best not to prune during summer as the flowers appear on new spring growth.
- Smoke bush blooms with wispy, smoke-like flowers in late spring and early summer and pruning should be done in late winter or early spring - before flower buds have shown.
- Rhododendron don't need a lot of pruning and pruning any later will diminish next year’s flowers.
- Panicle hydrangeas produce clusters of white flowers in summer that turn pink later and don't interfere with blooms by pruning in summer. Pruning can be done in fall, late winter or early spring if necessary.
- Potentilla flowers on new wood, so it should be pruned in late winter or early spring. The thickest stems of potentilla will not bloom anymore, so they can be cut all the way back.
- If Smoke bush is cut too severely, flowering will be greatly reduced for the summer.
Flowering Shrubs and Trees
- Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a beautiful flowering tree that grows in USDA zones 7-10.
- Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa) is a small-to-medium-flowering shrub for USDA zones 2-7.
- Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an evergreen flowering shrub or small tree hardy in USDA zones 9-11. Flowers on oleander grow on new growth, so pruning will not disrupt regular blooming. Pruning of oleander should be done in late winter before new growth appears.
In Summary
Avoid summer pruning mainly on woody shrubs and trees that set buds on old wood (rhododendrons, lilacs, oak) and plants susceptible to disease or bloom loss. Instead, prune immediately after flowering or in their dormant season for best health and flowering. Light deadheading or selective trimming is acceptable on some herbs and vines to maintain vigor.
- Maintaining a home-and-garden lifestyle in summer involves careful consideration of when to prune certain plants, as not all plants respond similarly.
- For instance, homeowners should avoid pruning oak trees, rhododendrons, lilacs, abelia, and crape myrtles during summer to prevent diseases, potential delays in flowering, or loss of blooms. Instead, prune these plants either in winter or after they have finished blooming.
