Most pruning mistakes come down to one thing: cutting at the wrong time and removing this year’s flowers.
The RHS rule-of-thumb is reliable:
- Best time to prune most shrubs = after flowering
- Hard renovation / major reduction = late winter to early spring, just before growth starts
But different shrubs flower on different wood, so below is a simple -friendly guide that covers the shrubs most common in South of England gardens.
The 2 pruning rules that prevent 80% of problems
Rule 1: If it flowers in spring, prune AFTER it flowers
Many spring-flowering shrubs set buds the year before. RHS guidance for early-flowering shrubs is clear: prune immediately after flowering.
Rule 2: If it flowers late summer/autumn, you usually prune in late winter/early spring
Many later-flowering shrubs bloom on new growth, so pruning before spring growth encourages strong flowering stems.
Quick guide: common shrubs and when to prune
Use this as your do I cut it now? reference.
Forsythia
When: immediately after flowering
Why: flowers on last year’s growth
RHS lists forsythia under early-flowering shrubs to prune right after flowering.
Weigela / Philadelphus / Flowering currant
When: immediately after flowering
How: shorten flowered shoots to strong new shoots; remove some older stems each year
RHS gives this exact approach for early-flowering shrubs.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are where people get burned.
General timing: most are pruned late winter or early spring, but methods vary by species
RHS hydrangea pruning guidance stresses timing and type differences.
Shrubs grown for colourful stems
When: late winter/early spring
How: prune hard to promote fresh coloured stems
RHS pruning groups include hard pruning for stem colour shrubs in late winter/early spring.
Evergreen shrubs
When: usually after flowering
Avoid: autumn/winter pruning that can stress the plant
RHS notes evergreen shrubs don’t store reserves in roots the same way, and autumn/winter pruning can be risky; after flowering is best, with renovation possible late winter/early spring.
Month-by-month pruning overview
This is intentionally broad:
Late winter to early spring: renovation pruning; many late-summer flowering shrubs; stem-colour shrubs
Spring: mostly light tidy only unless you know the shrub flowers on new growth
After flowering: most spring-flowering shrubs
Late summer: selective pruning of some shrubs after flowering; avoid heavy cuts in heat/drought
Autumn: generally avoid heavy pruning for many shrubs; focus on dead/damaged wood only unless you know the plant’s needs
If you want the exact right method for each shrub, RHS recommends tailoring to the plant and pruning purpose.
Common mistakes
- Pruning spring-flowering shrubs in winter → removes flower buds
- Hard pruning evergreens in cold months → stress + slow recovery
- Shearing everything into blobs → weak structure + fewer flowers
- Not removing any old wood → shrub gets congested and sparse
Want a done properly prune?
We can prune shrubs in a way that keeps them:
healthy
shaped
flowering well
not overgrown next year