Reiman Gardens - Weekly Videos

26. Spring Pruning

On this episode of Growing at Reiman Gardens, Outdoor Horticulturist, Sarah Rummery, demonstrates the proper way to prune deciduous flowering shrubs. Before beginning, make sure you know whether your shrub is considered old wood (lilacs, verbena, witch hazel) or new wood (Hydrangea paniculata, H. arborescens, calacarpa). This will determine an appropriate pruning time. To prune, start by cutting off any dead wood on the plant, then cut out any branches that are rubbing together or crossing to prevent damage.