Pruning is typically thought about as an autumn or spring task, but winter pruning has its place.
In winter, active growth slows down significantly, and plants rest for a few months. That’s why the winter and very early spring tend to be the best times for pruning some plants, especially if you want to adjust the shape.
Winter pruning prepares your plants to focus on growing flowers and fruit when they emerge in the spring so you should prune hard in the winter before any new growth starts in the garden.
According to gardening pros at lovethegarden “summer pruning is needed to remove wayward or superfluous growth”, but it is the “winter prune that is vital for the plants’ continued performance and longevity”.
So what needs pruning right now? Mo Buhula, plant specialist at The Botanical Archive, has shared five plants that “need to be pruned in winter” and the “best way” to prune each of them.
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1. Wisteria
Wisteria usually likes to be pruned twice a year. Typically in July or August, then again in January or February.
During winter, Mo claimed that it is safe to cut back old or dead wood right back to the base of the plant.
Whereas in summer, gardeners should just cut back the chippy shoots. This controls the size of the wisteria, preventing it from getting into gutters and windows, and encourages it to form flower buds rather than green growth.
Before pruning, clean your equipment as wisteria can be “susceptible to disease”, warned the expert.
2. White-flowered hydrangeas
These varieties are usually safe to prune in the winter. Mo said: “Use a sharp set of tools and cut back only old side shoots that are beginning to form a congested appearance on the rest of the plant. Also, tidy up any dead or dying wood from your bushes.”
3. Climbing shrub roses
Climbing and shrub roses should be pruned in late winter. For climbers, gardeners should look to prune any dead or decayed matter from their rose with a sharp sterile secateurs and cut back healthy flowered side shoots by a third.
Mo said: “Remember to cut above the last node and train the healthy side shoots across a trellis or wire.”
For shrub roses cut off dead or decayed sections and cut older sections of the plant right back to the base, this will allow some air to circulate and new growth will come from the base of the plant.
4. Apple trees
Pruning apple trees in the winter can help “improve their shape and encourage strong new growth” in the spring. When pruning an apple tree in the winter, begin by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Mo noted that these can be identified by their dry, “discoloured, or otherwise unhealthy appearance”.
Thin out any crowded or crossing branches to improve airflow and light penetration within the tree.
Cut back branches that are growing too vigorously or out of shape and aim to create a balanced, open canopy with a central leader (the main trunk).
Remove any suckers (new shoots) growing from the base of the tree or from roots and make all cuts just above a bud or lateral branch, using clean, sharp pruning tools. Avoid leaving stubs, as these can create entry points for pests and diseases.
5. Raspberry bushes
Raspberry bushes need to be pruned in winter to help “improve their growth and fruiting potential” in the coming season.
Just like with apple trees, begin by removing any dead, diseased or damaged canes. Next, prune out any weak or thin canes that are less than half an inch in diameter. Mo warned: “These are less likely to produce a good crop of fruit.”
Cut the remaining canes back to a height of about two feet, using clean, sharp pruning tools. The expert noted: “This will encourage the bush to produce new, vigorous growth in the spring.”
