Which trees and shrubs are best pruned in winter?
By Service Plus Stockholm AB5 min read
Short answer
Which trees and shrubs are best pruned in winter?
Winter, roughly December to March, suits large deciduous trees such as oak, lime, beech and ash, as well as summer-flowering shrubs like buddleia, panicle hydrangea and spirea that bloom on the current year's growth. Birch and maple should be pruned in deep winter when it's really cold, since they bleed sap heavily in milder weather. Stone fruit trees such as plum and cherry, along with spring-flowering shrubs like lilac and forsythia, should not be pruned now – they do best when trimmed at other times, which Service Plus is happy to explain during a visit.
Why is winter a good time to prune certain plants?
When a tree or shrub is dormant, without leaves and not growing, the branch structure is clearly visible, making it easy to see where branches cross, where there are double leaders, or where there is damaged wood. Cut surfaces dry out faster in cold, dry air, and the risk of fungal infection spreading through wounds is lower than during the warm, humid season.
The plant has also stored its energy in the roots ahead of winter, which means it has plenty of strength to heal the cuts and send out new shoots once spring arrives.
Which trees are best pruned in winter?
Large deciduous trees such as oak, lime, beech, ash and maple are usually best handled during dormancy, since the crown is easier to assess and the work disturbs birdlife and insects the least at this time. Birch and maple, however, bleed sap heavily as soon as the temperature rises above freezing, so they do best when pruned during really cold spells, ideally in January or early February before the sap starts rising in earnest.
Ornamental trees such as magnolia, katsura and many flowering cherries are treated in the same way as the large deciduous trees, while fruit trees without stone fruit, such as apple and pear, are also well suited to winter pruning – there are separate articles on apple and fruit tree pruning if you want to read more about the exact timing for those.
- Oak, lime, beech and ash – any time during dormancy
- Birch and maple – only during a really cold spell
- Ornamental trees such as magnolia and katsura
- Apple, pear and other pome fruit trees
Which shrubs are best pruned in winter?
Shrubs that flower on the current year's growth, meaning they form buds and flowers on the shoots produced that same season, can take a hard winter prune without losing their coming bloom. These include buddleia, panicle and annabelle hydrangeas, Japanese spirea, and several climbers that flower late in the season.
Berry bushes such as redcurrant and gooseberry are often cut back hard in late winter to keep the bush open and encourage a better harvest the following summer, since they fruit best on younger branches.
- Buddleia – can be cut back hard every winter
- Panicle and annabelle hydrangeas
- Japanese spirea and similar summer-flowering spireas
- Redcurrant and gooseberry
Which trees and shrubs should not be pruned in winter?
Stone fruit trees such as plum and cherry should be avoided entirely during the winter half of the year, since cold weather and damp cuts increase the risk of bacterial canker and silver leaf disease. They are instead pruned during summer when wound healing is quick – read more in the article on when to prune plum and cherry trees.
Spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac, forsythia and many spirea species set their flower buds the previous summer. Pruning them in winter removes next spring's blooms, so they should instead be trimmed right after flowering ends. The same applies to thuja and beech hedges, which have their own best timing described in other articles on the blog.
- Plum, cherry and other stone fruit – wait until summer
- Lilac, forsythia and spring-flowering spirea – trim after flowering
- Thuja and beech hedges – follow the hedge's own season
How does Service Plus decide when and how to prune?
Every species and every individual plant is assessed on site before shears or saw are used. Service Plus's specialist looks at the species' flower buds, branch structure and overall health, as well as the weather forecast for the coming days, since prolonged hard frost below minus ten degrees can make the wood brittle and the cuts harder to make cleanly.
Frozen ground is not in itself an obstacle to pruning a tree's crown, and winter is often convenient since the lawn and flower beds are not damaged by machinery and cherry pickers moving around the garden.
How Service Plus carries out winter pruning
Saxa, Service Plus's pruning specialist, assesses on site which of your trees and shrubs will benefit most from being pruned right now and which should wait for another time in the season. Examples of what can be included are formative pruning of young deciduous trees, cutting back summer-flowering shrubs, and removing dead or damaged branches – the scope and frequency are agreed together with you and written into the quote.
We bring our own equipment, including a cherry picker when needed, and can remove branches and clippings straight away so the garden is left tidy. As a private individual, you get the RUT deduction of up to 50% of the labour cost, deducted directly from the invoice. Get in touch and Service Plus will come out and provide a free quote within 24 hours.
Common follow-up questions
Can trees and shrubs be pruned when there's snow on the ground?
Yes, snow on the ground rarely hinders the work, and Service Plus assesses the weather and temperature before every visit to make the cuts at the right time.
Is removal of branches and clippings included in the price?
Waste removal can be booked as part of the job and will then be taken away the same day, but the removal itself is not covered by the RUT deduction even though the pruning work is.
Can newly planted trees be pruned in their very first winter?
Yes, light formative pruning in the first winter helps the tree develop a strong basic structure, and Service Plus's specialist decides how much is appropriate based on the species' age and condition.
Does winter pruning harm bird nests or insects?
The risk is lower in winter since most birds are not nesting and insects overwinter in the ground or deeper in the bark, which is one reason winter is often chosen for larger tree work.
