9 Plants You Should Cut Back in Winter for Lush Growth in Spring

Apple Trees

Fruit trees benefit from pruning, and it's best to do so during the winter when the tree isn't active. "Winter pruning maximizes the annual energy cycle, promoting healthy shoot growth in spring," says arborist Doug Still. "Pruning in summer removes nutrients and carbohydrates before the tree can make use of them, which is very important for productive fruit trees."

He notes that since apples (Malus spp.) in particular are a fall harvest, pruning them in winter is the most logical choice. "Lastly, most insects and pathogens are dormant in winter, so cuts are less likely to attract pests," he adds.

Tri-Color Dappled Willow

"Winter pruning can be beneficial to non-flowering woody plants that produce colorful foliage in spring," says Ballato. "One example is the tri-color dappled willow (Salix integra, or 'Hakuro-Nishiki'). It thrives on neglect, isn't fussy about soil, and can be a real showstopper when grown in groupings [or] as a border."

Early Amethyst

The ornamental berries of Callicarpa dichotoma are absolutely stunning, and are arranged in bundles along the stems of the shrub. "Any shrub that flowers on 'new wood' is a candidate for winter cutting," says Ballato. She notes that you have to be careful about pruning too much prior to winter, but in southern regions, winter pruning can be quite helpful. 

Oak Tree

If that stately oak tree (Quercus) in your lawn is starting to sprawl, and its low-hanging branches are getting out of hand, then winter is a fine time to prune. It's also an easier time for beginners, who might appreciate the lack of leaves at this time of year.

"One small advantage to pruning maple and oak trees in winter is that their structure is easily visible and understood," says Still. "However, most trained arborists can assess the tree's structural problems regardless of season."

Maple Tree

Like oaks, a lack of leaves can help a beginner properly judge the shape of a maple tree when pruning. Otherwise, you can prune almost any time of year—as long as you don't overdo it. "Don't prune sugar maple and red maple trees in mid-spring to avoid excessive sap flow from pruning cuts," says Still.

Rose

While it will depend on the specific rose variety, many Rosa family members perform best with late-season winter pruning—shortly before the growing season begins. It's a great time to direct the bush into the size and shape that fits your landscaping, plus, you can seek out and remove any diseased or damaged stalks. 

Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica is a wonderful, colorful shrub—similar to lilac in that it can be shaped into a simple hedge, or even a small tree. As with roses, pruning crape myrtle should be done quite late in the winter. The idea is twofold: to protect the shrub from sending out fresh shoots from the pruning site during an unexpected warm spell, and to prevent cold temperatures from damaging pruning sites. 

Blueberry

Your blueberry bushes provide a wonderful summertime treat, and the shrub-like foliage isn't unattractive either. To keep those fruits coming, you'll probably want to prune back your bushes to some extent each year. Doing so not only keeps them from crowding and developing awkward shapes but also encourages vigorous new growth. Winter or early spring, when the bush is still dormant, is precisely the right time.

Dogwood

Dogwoods are small trees with lovely blossoms, and the similar red twig dogwood is a shrub variety with scarlet bark. You can keep these beautiful plants intact for most of the winter to add color to your garden, but in both cases, late winter is the prime time for pruning back.

This timing is ideal because the sap isn't running then—an important factor, since dogwoods tend to release a lot when pruned. In the winter, when the plant is dormant, they're much less likely to "bleed."