Winter Pruning Tips for Northern New Jersey

It is a common misconception that pruning should only be done in the fall, after deciduous plants, shrubs and trees have bloomed and are dormant. However almost any time is a good time to prune if your plant needs it. Read on to discover the best winter pruning tips for northern New Jersey landscapes.

What is ‘Pruning’?

Pruning refers to the practice of trimming back foliage from plants in order to keep them healthy and beautiful. Late winter is the best time for pruning, especially in Northern New Jersey. It promotes the fastest regrowth for spring and is much easier to see what needs to be removed when the foliage has died back for winter. To begin pruning any plant, first remove any stems that look damaged by disease or weather, or appear dead. You can do this any time you notice them. Dead and decaying foliage make good insects homes and invite diseases into the rest of the plant. You can next remove branches that are forming from the trunk that you do not want, or from below the ground. You will also want to reduce higher branches for a more open overall appearance. We have written in the past, listing general pruning tips.

Why Prune?

Pruning is vital to organic tree and shrub care. The main reasons why we prune is to thin, reduce, and amputate.

• Thinning is crucial to cutting out diseased part of your organic tree or shrub. It also prevents confusion from the plant’s structure and it enhances the overall health.
• Reducing is key for the beauty of your plant. It increases flowering in foliage, and it also prevents the plant from outgrowing its position in your yard.
• Amputating a tree or shrub sounds comical, but is extremely necessary to revitalize shrubs and trees to their younger selves. Experiment where to snip, but judge carefully. While trees can be forgiving, over pruning may harm the organic tree or shrub life in seasons to come.

Winter Pruning Tips for Northern New Jersey Landscapes

At Borst Landscape, our trained professionals can handle even the most daunting pruning task, but if you are a do-it-yourself pruner, here are some tips for winter pruning in northern New Jersey.

• Pruning on a mild, dry day will be easiest for you and the plant.
• While winter is recommended as pruning season, make sure the coldest part has passed so cold damage from pruning cuts don’t harm your tree or shrub.
• First, remove the diseased or dead, branches and any branches that cross over.
• Slowly remove the overgrown and smaller branches. This will increase air and most importantly light at the top of the tree.
• The goal is to keep the healthy, strong branches to maintain the overall structure of your plant.
• Cutting at the node (a central or connecting point) of the branch is the best way to keep up the health and beauty of the tree
• There is an exception to the prune in winter rule. For early spring blooming shrubs such as lilac, forsythia and rhododendron should actually be pruned right after they bloom, or you may remove the flower buds necessary for a beautiful spring bloom.

If you need help with winter pruning tips in Northern New Jersey, or want to discuss pruning with a professional, Borst Landscape & Design is here to help. We can help you prune your perennials, shrubs and trees for a spectacular spring landscape. Contact the experts at Borst today to get started.

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