The one rule that stops most pruning mistakes
Prune spring-flowering shrubs after they flower, and summer-flowering shrubs in late winter. That single rule prevents the most common mistake — cutting the buds off a shrub that flowers on the previous year's growth. Everything else in this calendar is a refinement of it.
Winter (Dec-Feb): the dormant prune
- •Apples and pears — structural and renewal pruning while leafless.
- •Bush and shrub roses — late Feb/early March, before growth breaks.
- •Deciduous hedges — a light reshape while there are no nesting birds.
- •Vines, wisteria — winter spur prune to control growth.
- •Avoid: any stone fruit (cherry, plum) and any spring-flowering shrub.
Spring (Mar-May): the after-flowering prune
- •Forsythia, ribes, philadelphus, weigela — cut back flowered stems to a strong new shoot as soon as the display ends.
- •Hydrangeas — remove dead flower heads to a strong bud once frost risk passes.
- •Evergreen hedges — first clip of the season, watch for nesting birds (legally protected).
- •Late-flowering clematis — hard prune Group 3 types to a low pair of buds.
Summer (Jun-Aug): fruit, trained forms and tidying
- •Stone fruit (cherry, plum, apricot) — prune now to avoid silver leaf disease.
- •Rambling roses — prune immediately after flowering.
- •Wisteria — summer spur prune the long whippy growth back to 5-6 leaves.
- •Privet, box and other fast hedges — keep trimmed to avoid losing the shape.
Autumn (Sep-Nov): light work and preparation
- •Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches while the canopy is still visible.
- •Tidy perennials — but leave seed heads for winter interest and wildlife.
- •Don't prune tender shrubs now — leave top growth to protect against frost.
- •Late clematis in Group 3 can be left until February if you prefer.
A note on nesting birds
All wild birds and their active nests are legally protected in the UK. From March through August, check a hedge or shrub for nesting activity before you cut — if a bird is nesting, leave the work until the young have fledged. Our maintenance teams always do this check before a seasonal trim.