Garden Landscaping 10 Plants You Should Always Cut Back in December, According to Gardening Experts These are all the plants to prune now to perk up your winter landscape. By Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro is a writer and author specializing in home and garden topics. She has written for Architectural Digest, The Spruce, Midwest Living, and other publications. Editorial Guidelines Published on December 4, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images While many gardening tasks have slowed down for the year, the work isn't done yet. Some plants must be pruned in December to keep them healthy through the long winter. Giving your plants a trim now ensures your landscape is tidy before it's too cold to work in the garden. Plus, many plants benefit from December pruning, which can encourage a lush and bountiful garden next spring. Ahead, gardening experts share which plants you should always prune in December. Manny Barra, master gardener at TeachMe.To and the community garden coordinator for the city of Oakland, California. Julia Omelchenko, resident botany expert at Plantum, the app that helps identify plants and improve plant care. 01 of 10 Apple Trees Getty Images Fall is harvesting season for apple trees (Malus pumila), and come winter, the trees are ready for a bit of pruning to prepare them for next year. “These deciduous darlings are taking their winter nap, making it the prime time to trim away dead or crossing branches,” says Manny Barra, a master gardener at TeachMe.To. When pruning an apple tree, you’re not just tidying it up by removing dead branches; you’re setting the stage for a bountiful harvest next year. By removing the dead or dying branches, the tree focuses its energy on growing fruit. Zones: 2 to 9Size: 12 to 15 feet tall x 12 to 15 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; loamy, acidic soil 02 of 10 Roses Alex Manders / Getty Images Roses (Rosa) are dormant in winter, making it the perfect time to prune them. “Yes, your dramatic, thorny queens need a little TLC, too,” says Barra. To prune a rose bush, cut back straggly canes and remove anything dead or diseased. “But don’t go overboard—leave major pruning for late winter. Right now, it’s all about preventing winter winds from whipping them into a tangled mess,” he says. Zones: 2 to 9Size: 12 to 15 feet tall x 12 to 15 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; loamy, acidic soil 03 of 10 Hydrangeas Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). Skymoon13 / Getty Images These blooming bushes benefit from a good pruning in winter. But be sure to discern which variety of hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) you are working with to know when to prune a hydrangea. The kind that blooms on old wood should be left alone, says Barra. “But if they bloom on new growth—looking at you, panicle hydrangeas—a light prune now will encourage better blooms come spring,” he says. To prune, use clean, sharp garden shears to remove dead or damaged wood to help the plant regrow new wood next year. Zones: 5 to 9Size: 2 to 20 feet tall x 2 to 6 feet wideCare requirements: Full to partial sun; acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil 04 of 10 Pear Trees Tara Moore / Getty Images Like apple trees, pear trees (Psidium guajava) benefit from a December pruning. “From late fall to early spring, the pear trees go dormant, which makes pruning less stressful,” says Julia Omelchenko, the resident botany expert at Plantum. The main goal when pruning pear trees in winter is to thin out the plant's crown. “This improves light penetration, air circulation, fruit quality, and minimizes pests and diseases,” she says. “Pruning back sick and damaged shoots is also necessary. Make your cuts neat, aiming above an outward-facing bud to direct new growth.” Zones: 5 to 7Size: 20 feet tall x 20 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; loamy, clay, moist but well-draining soil 05 of 10 Willow Trees PurpleImages / Getty Images. Willow trees (Salix) are fast-growing trees that can be pruned in December. “Trimming them prevents overgrowing and ensures a pleasing shape,” says Omelchenko. To prune these trees, remove all broken branches and those competing with the central stem and preventing air circulation, she says. Zones: 4 to 10Size: 35 to 50 feet tall x 5 to 50 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; acidic, neutral, alkaline soil 06 of 10 Grapevines Getty Images Prune grapevines (Vitis vinifera) in areas that experience mild winters. “Pruning in early winter keeps their vine size under control, stimulates active growth, and maximizes yield,” says Omelchenko. Waiting to prune grapevines until after December can cause the cuts to bleed sap, weakening the plant. “Sap starts to flow earlier in greenhouse grapevines, so it’s particularly important to complete their pruning in early winter,” she says. In areas prone to spring frosts or harsher winters, delay pruning your grapevine until early spring. Zones: 4 to 10Size: Depends on varietyCare requirements: Full sun; loamy soil 07 of 10 Wisteria Wisteria vine 'Black Dragon' on pergola. Mark Turner/Getty Images Pruning wisteria (Wisteria spp.) twice a year keeps these fragrant flowering vines looking their best and promotes blooming, Omelchenko says. The first pruning session for this plant should happen in summer (late July or August), but the second pruning session should be done in fall or winter (from late November to February). “Cut back new growth up to two to three buds. Also, remove all dead, damaged, and sick shoots,” she says. Zone: 5 to 9Size: 10 to 25 feet long x 4 to 8 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; slightly acidic to neutral soil 08 of 10 Oak Trees Getty Images A deciduous tree, oak (Quercus) benefits from a round of pruning in winter. “Trimming oak trees in winter is vital, as it reduces the risk of oak wilt caused by the Bretziella fagacearum fungus,” says Omelchenko. Oak wilt is introduced to the tree by sap beetles, which are active from March. Hence, it’s important to prune during December when the beetle isn’t around to spread the fungus. Zones: 4 to 8Size: Depends on varietyCare requirements: Full to partial sun; acidic soil 09 of 10 Purple Coneflowers Nancybelle Gonzaga Villarroya/Getty Images In most regions, purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) hibernate in winter. Their roots remain alive underground, but the flowers and vegetation all die. While you don’t necessarily have to prune these plants, Barra says it is good for their health and elevates the aesthetic of your perennial garden. “A clean garden bed not only looks nice but also keeps pests from turning it into their winter Airbnb,” he says. Zones: 3 to 8Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; neutral to acidic, moist but well-draining soil 10 of 10 American Elderberry Bernard Lynch / Getty Images American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) tolerates heavy pruning well in winter. This is because they enter their dormancy period during winter, making it a great time to cut back on the vegetation and help shape the shrub as you like. “Doing this encourages lush growth and abundant blooming in spring,” says Omelchenko. Zones: 4 to 8Size: 5 to12 feet tall x 6 to12 feet wideCare requirements: Full to partial sun; neutral to acidic, moist but well-draining soil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit