Spring landscape cleanup begins with smart pruning
Monday, February 16, 2026
Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Sr. Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu
Gardeners in Oklahoma are eager to get their landscapes looking good, and pruning their trees and shrubs is one way to get started.
Pruning not only is an essential maintenance practice, but it also enhances the beauty of the trees and shrubs, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist.
“Pruning is definitely important not only from an aesthetics standpoint – it’s important for plant health, too,” he said. “However, gardeners must remember that improper pruning can destroy the natural beauty of a tree or shrub. It can also reduce the tree or shrub’s landscape potential by weakening it, which makes the plants susceptible to various maladies.”
Pruning most often involves removing plant parts that are no longer effective or useful to the plant. This helps redirect additional energy toward the development of flowers, fruits, foliage, and the remaining limbs.
The necessity for pruning can be reduced or eliminated by selecting the proper plant for the location. Plants that may grow too large for the site will require pruning to keep them within the space, altering the original intent and potentially making them unsightly or weak with age. Instead, gardeners should choose a smaller-growing tree or shrub.
When should pruning take place? Homeowners can prune at any time of year; however, there are times when pruning is better for certain plants. Pruning at the wrong time of year won’t kill the plants, but it can result in damaged or weakened plants.
Don’t prune at planting, as young trees need all the stored energy for proper establishment. Don’t prune to balance the roots and crown. Once the trees are established, take time to examine them thoroughly for pruning requirements. Don’t let trees and shrubs get overgrown, as this can lead to the need for drastic pruning. If trees are trained properly when young, they typically need little pruning later on.
Spring-flowering trees, shrubs and vines shouldn’t be pruned right now. Wait until the flowers have bloomed and faded. Pruning now would remove flower buds, destroying the spring flowering display. Some plants that fall into this category include crabapple, flowering quince, forsythia, viburnum and wisteria, to name a few.
The blooms of summer-flowering shrubs, trees, and vines appear on limbs produced that season. Therefore, these may be pruned in the early spring or fall. Rose-of-Sharon, butterfly bush and glossy abelia fall into this category.
“If your landscape has evergreen plants, they need to be pruned to control their shape and size, as well as to remove dead, diseased or damaged limbs,” Hillock said. “Remove old branches to allow for new growth. These plants are good landscape choices because they usually require less pruning than deciduous trees and shrubs.”
Make sure pruning tools are sharp and in good condition. Essential tools include lopping shears, a hand pruner, a folding saw for tight spaces, a bow saw, and leather gloves. Be sure to wear eye protection, too. Clean the tools after use to help keep them in good condition.
“Pruning is one of those gardening chores that can make a big difference in the aesthetics of the landscape,” he said. “Just make sure it is done properly and at the right time.”
OSU Extension offers more gardening information online.