5 Things to Know About Pruning Spring-Blooming Shrubs

Prune right after flowering That is the only safe time for lilacs, azaleas, and forsythia. They set next year’s flower buds on old wood over the summer, so fall or spring pruning removes those buds.

Look for clear signs it needs pruning Cut when the bush is a tangled mess, blooms are smaller or fewer, dead or crossing branches are obvious, or it has outgrown its spot. Do not wait for it to look perfect.

Remove the oldest stems at ground level Cut out the thickest, oldest stems to open up the middle. Then shape the rest of the plant.

Be more aggressive than you think Go a little harder than you expect. Lilacs especially get woody and lazy without a good chop every few years.

Do not be shy about it A hard prune will be rewarded with better blooms next spring.