{"id":84744,"date":"2023-12-02T11:48:34","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T11:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/?p=84744"},"modified":"2023-12-02T11:48:34","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T11:48:34","slug":"prune-these-plants-in-december-to-improve-flowering-and-fruit-setting-in-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/home-and-garden\/prune-these-plants-in-december-to-improve-flowering-and-fruit-setting-in-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Prune these plants in December to improve flowering and fruit setting in spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monty Don shares tips for pruning fruit trees<\/h3>\n

Pruning after the blooming phase ends is key for plants to achieve their full potential when producing flowers and fruit.<\/p>\n

A general guideline is that plants blooming on new growth can be pruned in winter, before the initiation of the new season’s growth and after the last bloom of the year.<\/p>\n

However, gardening enthusiasts should be careful with spring-blooming shrubs, as pruning them in winter may harm the flower buds and compromise the upcoming blooming season.<\/p>\n

Hence the need to resist the urge to trim azaleas, winter-flowering viburnums, early-blooming spireas, lilacs, rhododendrons, quinces, loropetalums, and forsythias during winter.<\/p>\n

Abelia is one plant that can be pruned in winter because it blooms on new growth from spring through fall.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0Four plants that need pruning now to stimulate new growth and improve flowering<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Southern Living Garden Book\u00a0explained: “To retain Abelia’s naturally graceful shape, use hand pruners to cut a few of the main stems to the ground each winter or early spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis produces more of the vigorous, arching stems that create the plant’s pleasing form. Do not shear.<\/p>\n

Beautyberry\u00a0blooms on new growth, so it can be cut back in late winter or early spring, so gardeners are advised to “remove a third of oldest stems, or lop whole plant low to ground. Plants may freeze to ground in Upper South, but they come back from roots.”<\/p>\n

Most species of butterfly bush, or\u00a0Buddleja,\u00a0should be pruned according to the necessities of\u00a0Buddleja davidii,\u00a0or orange-eyed butterfly bush.<\/p>\n

The Southern Living Garden Book\u00a0tells gardeners to “cut back plants heavily (nearly to the ground) in late winter to early spring to promote strong new growth for good flowering.”<\/p>\n

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Regular pruning is essential for roses, and winter is a suitable time for this task for many varieties.<\/p>\n

The Grumpy Gardener advises against pruning in late summer and early fall, as it could promote late growth that might not harden off before winter.<\/p>\n

While winter pruning is not recommended in the North, it is considered appropriate in the South. The key is to avoid late-season pruning that may interfere with the plant’s ability to withstand winter conditions.<\/p>\n

For both smooth and panicle hydrangeas, including the ‘Peegee’ variety, winter is the recommended time for pruning.<\/p>\n

This involves removing any dead wood and spent blossoms. In contrast, all other types of hydrangeas should undergo pruning in the summer.<\/p>\n