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Here is a spring pruning guide for trees and shrubs. The Old Farmer's Almanac presents a guide to when and how to prune specific varieties of trees and shrubs.
| WHAT | WHEN | HOW |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | Early spring | Prune moderately. Keep tree open with main branches well spaced. Avoid sharp V-shaped crotches. |
| Cherry | Early spring | Prune the most vigorous shoots moderately. |
| Clematis | Spring | Cut weak growth. Save as much old wood as possible. |
| Flowering dogwood | After flowering | Remove dead wood only. |
| Forsythia | After flowering | Remove old branches at ground. Trim new growth. |
| Lilac | After flowering | Remove diseased, scaly growth, flower heads, and suckers. |
| Peach | Early spring | Remove half of last year's growth. Keep tree headed low. |
| Plum | Early spring | Cut dead, diseased branches; trim rank growth moderately. |
| Rhododendron | After flowering | Prune judiciously. Snip branches from weak, leggy plants to induce growth from roots. |
| Rose (except climbers) | Spring, after frosts | Cut dead and weak growth; cut branches or canes to four or five eyes. |
| Rose (climbers) | After flowering | Cut half of old growth; retain new shoots for next year. |
| Rose of Sharon | When buds | Cut all winter-killed wood to swell begin growth back to live wood. |
| Trumpet vine | Early spring | Prune side branches severely to main stem. |
| Virginia creeper | Spring | Clip young plants freely. Thin old plants and remove dead growth. |
| Wisteria | Spring, summer | Cut new growth to spurs at axils of leaves. |
