What trees can you prune in February? During the winter season, many plants lay dormant until Spring arrives. It is the best time to prune your plants (weather permitting) and should ideally be done before the sap rises in early spring. Winter pruning helps to remove any new growth that is damaged and can also help with the overall maintenance and shape of the plant. There are many trees and shrubs that are at the top of the pruning list for February. Pruning trees Pruning Acer trees All Acer trees should be pruned during the dormant months (November to March) this means pruning in February is a great time to have a look at your Acer trees and get them looking their best, ready for Spring. Although these months are usually the best you should avoid pruning when the temperatures drop below zero. You may prune an Acer tree to restrict its size, maintain an attractive shape, and for general maintenance to preserve the health of your trees. These trees are a great low-maintenance option for your garden. Crab Apple trees Pruning will vary depending on the species as they can produce differently shaped canopies which means pruning will vary slightly depending on the type of the tree. Crab Apples don’t require heavy pruning as they are very hardy trees so swill flourishes easily. It’s always best to consider how you want it to look before removing too many branches! Any heavy pruning should be done when the plant is dormant so later winter or early Spring. This means February is a great time to start doing this. Light pruning or an occasional tidy-up occasionally can help encourage new, healthy growth and help keep an attractive silhouette. Pruning Eucalyptus Ornamental trees Now is the perfect time to look at pruning Eucalyptus gunnii as you want to prune them just before the plants are actively in growth so later winter or spring is suitable. This is so it doesn’t bleed sap and reduces the risk of attracting insects that can carry disease. All new growth should be cut back and require pruning to maintain the balance of the canopy which can also be tackled now. Eucalyptus trees benefit from pruning to help the grow into nicely shaped trees. Due to it being a fast-growing tree, it is also great to keep an eye on them as they can grow out of control as well as allowing you to keep an out for any diseases and be able to catch them quickly (although these trees are usually free from issues). Liquidambar trees It is worth checking on Liquidambar styraciflua because although they don’t require regular pruning, it’s best to remove any weak stems that can spoil the overall balance of the tree as it continues to grow. Removing dead or diseased branches, whilst dormant (November to March) can reduce the risk of problems to the overall shape. Larger trees can also benefit from having the low branches removed. Pruning Pear Conference trees Routine pruning isn’t necessary for Pear Conference trees but it is recommended to remove low-hanging branches and any weeping species will need stems cleared to allow enough room for the cascading branches. Taking out any growth that is heading towards the centre of the tree as this can reduce light and air and can cause problems when it comes to fruit ripening. Light pruning of ornamental pears can reduce the risk of disease as well. Sorbus trees Little pruning is required for these Sorbus plants after they become established. You will want to keep an eye on any branches as growing fruit can weigh heavy on their branches and cause damage to the framework. A tidy-up is recommended such as getting rid of damaged branches and cutting back any suckering shoots from the base of the tree. It’s best to prune Sorbus trees in early winter as you want to avoid doing it during the growing season. This is because they will naturally bleed sap when they are actively growing. If it is necessary to remove deadwood due to safety reasons then this can be carried out at any time. Caring for your trees and pruning them at the right time of year will massively benefit the health of your trees in the long run. Pruning in February for certain trees is a great month to start. Take a look at our how to choose the right tree for your garden if you need some help picking the right one for you! BACK TO ARTICLES
