11 Trees and Shrubs You Should Prune in February

February is the time for planning and seed starting, but it’s also a great time to prune trees and shrubs. Many deciduous and evergreen species need pruning over the winter, and now is a great time to get started. 

There are several reasons we prune some trees and shrubs in the winter. This is their dormant period, and they experience less stress when you trim them during this time. It’s also easiest to see the interior of the plant while it is leafless. This makes it easier to shape the plant and work on properly pruning the interior for exposure and air circulation. 

Pruning has some important benefits. It encourages healthy new growth in the spring. It also helps to maintain a strong and healthy structure. When you prune in winter, it helps the plant use nutrients more efficiently and heal faster. 

Not every tree and shrub is right for trimming in the winter. For those that bloom on old wood, only prune immediately after flowering. This gives them the maximum amount of time to set and develop new buds. Here are some trees and shrubs that appreciate a good prune during the month of February.

Rose

	botanical name Rosa spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-12’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Winter is the ideal time to prune roses. Although you can trim them in the fall, they are fully dormant by February. That makes it a less stressful time to do this important work. Check to see if the buds have begun to swell. If they have, get to work. Try to utilize a warm day for the task. 

Remove all dead and damaged branches, and trim the longer stems by one-half to one-third of the total size. Cut them back to an outward-facing bud to encourage an attractive shape. Thin out the interior to encourage airflow, which decreases the risk of fungal diseases. 

American Wisteria

	botanical name Wisteria frutescens
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’-30’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Japanese wisteria is invasive and one to steer clear of. But, American wisteria is beautiful and safe to plant. It is leafless in winter, making it easier to see what you’re doing, so this is a great plant for winter trimming. These can take a hard cutting back, so don’t be afraid to take off a good amount.

Trim all the long shoots back to about three to five buds. Get rid of any damaged or dead branches altogether. Make your cuts at a slope to prevent water from pooling and rotting the tips. This keeps your wisteria to a manageable size and encourages prolific flowering. 

Apple

	botanical name Malus domestica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-30’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Apple trees require a lot of shaping to keep them structurally strong and produce a bounty of fruit. In winter, your apple is less susceptible to cold damage and won’t produce new growth until the weather warms up. Doing it at this time also helps it conserve energy for strong spring growth, which leads to a more bountiful harvest. 

Cut off all the dead weight, and then thin out the crown to let light and airflow in. When you make your cuts, trim only to the collar rather than cutting flush with the trunk. This will heal faster and better. Reduce the height of your leader, if you have one, to control the overall height. A taller tree is more difficult to harvest from. 

Pear

	botanical name Pyrus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 25’-30’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Pears are similar to apples in the way they grow and the type of care they require. Typically, it’s best to prune after the coldest weather has passed, but while the tree is still dormant—usually, by February and March, the buds will start to swell, so they are noticeable. 

Make sure to remove any suckers growing from the bottom, and waterspouts, too. These are branches that grow straight upward. Remove any that cross or rub together, and thin out the interior in general to reduce crowding. Pear trees should have a central leader. 

Hardy Hibiscus

	botanical name Hibiscus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 12”+
	hardiness zones 4-9

There are three types of cold hardy hibiscus. Two of them (H. coccineus and H. moscheutos) die back to the ground in winter. Cut these back to the ground, leaving only about six inches of the main trunk to mark its location. In warmer climates, it’s fine to do this in the fall, but it will be more protected from the cold if you hold off until late winter. 

The third type is H. syriacus, also called Rose of Sharon. This one doesn’t die back to the ground, so you don’t need to chop it that far down. Remove dead branches and cut the tips back to a healthy bud. Of course, if you live in the range where H. syriacus is invasive, try planting another hardy species.

Panicle Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea paniculata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 25’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Different hydrangeas need different care, but panicle hydrangeas are best pruned in late winter. The reason for this is that some hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so you need to trim them just after blooming. Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, though, so it’s fine to prune in winter. 

For smaller plants, cut off any dead weight and lightly tip the branches. You can go a bit harder once they reach about two feet tall. Remove any thin or spindly branches and thin out the interior. Then, trim branches back to a fat, healthy bud. 

Lemon

	botanical name Citrus x limon
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Lemon trees are evergreen, only growing in warm climates. Their fruit ripens in mid-winter, so your harvest should be between December and early March. After your harvest is the best time to prune and shape up your citrus trees, but if there is any risk of a late February freeze, hold off until after it passes. 

Cut back about 20 percent of the canopy of your lemon. Make your cuts with a sharp tool just above a leaf. Remove any low-lying branches because these can make it easier for pests to infiltrate. Remove crossing branches and any water spouts or suckers.

Orange

	botanical name Citrus x sinensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 30’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Oranges and other types of citrus should get the same treatment as lemons. Shape them and bring the canopy in by about 20%. Remove any dead and damaged wood, and branches that are weak, cross through the center, or become too tall to reach comfortably.  

Boxwood

	botanical name Buxus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-20’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Boxwoods are evergreen trees and shrubs with small, fine foliage. They make excellent hedges and topiaries. February is a good time to prune most evergreen trees because it prevents new growth from popping out too early. Young wood is more vulnerable to cold weather. 

Remove any dead wood first, then thin out the center to allow air and light into the interior. These can have dense foliage, which makes fungal disease more prevalent. Then go over the entire exterior, giving the whole plant a shaping up. These are incredibly resilient, so you can cut them back pretty hard without doing any permanent damage. 

Ninebark

	botanical name Physocarpus opulifolius
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’-8’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Ninebark is a beautiful shrub in the rose family. It’s a bountiful bloomer, and some varieties have gorgeous, wine-red foliage. Before it exits its dormant stage is the ideal time to give this shrub some attention. You may want to manage the size or just shape it up and clear out the crown a bit. 

Pruning your ninebark will set it up for healthier growth in the coming season. Thin out any crowded areas and remove any dead or diseased branches. If you’re dealing with a grossly overgrown ninebark, you can hard prune them. A mature shrub will tolerate cutting it back to just a few inches tall. 

Maple

	botanical name Acer spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30’-150’
	hardiness zones 3-9

You should prune maple trees, along with most other large, deciduous trees, in late winter, around January or February. Pruning before they begin to grow again makes it easier to get a clear picture of your tree’s overall structure. Don’t prune in especially cold weather, as this can make sap run and bring it out of dormancy too soon.