April is a month for pruning summer-flowering shrubs, evergreen hedges, old perennials, ornamental grasses, and trees that remain dormant in colder climates. However, timing is crucial, and any pruning must be done at the right time, especially during periods of changeable and potentially extreme weather.
The recent weather in the US has been highly variable, with different regions seeing different extremes. There have been severe storms in the Midwest, cold snaps in the Northeast, and record-breaking heat in the Southwest. It continues to look unstable for April, but warmer than average across much of the country. However, more extreme weather is not out of the question, with storms, dry and hot spells, and drought a distinct possibility.
Here we look at the plants to prune in April, and how the weather should affect your spring gardening checklist. We also reveal what not to prune in spring, and the conditions in which you should not head out with the pruning tools.
Plants to Prune in April
Summer-Flowering Shrubs
One of the key groups of plants to prune in spring is summer-flowering shrubs. This includes the likes of roses, butterfly bush, crepe myrtle, beautyberry, rose of Sharon, and new-wood hydrangeas (like panicle and smooth hydrangea varieties, but not all hydrangeas).
Summer-flowering deciduous shrubs produce their buds and bloom on new wood produced this season. And knowing what type of wood they flower on is vital in knowing when to prune shrubs.
New-wood bloomers want trimming early in the season to give them lots of time to develop stems to carry that season’s flowers. Shrubs that flower on old wood are trimmed after flowering, in late spring or early summer, to have the rest of the season to develop the stems to carry next year’s display.
Use a pair of clean, sharp pruning shears (I have a trusty pair of Felco pruners that have lasted me for over a decade of professional gardening so far, and you can get a pair of Felco F2 pruners at Amazon) to remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches, as well as crossing, weak, or congested growth. April is also the chance to gently shape the shrub to get it looking in top form for the season ahead.
Deciduous Trees
In cooler regions, there can still be time to prune trees before they fully emerge from dormancy. Any deciduous ornamental or fruit trees still in need of a bit of attention can be trimmed before the new season's growth really kicks in. In an ideal world, any ornamental or fruit tree pruning will be done before the buds fully open or the trees leaf out.
Removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches can help to keep the canopy healthy, and pruning fruit trees in spring rewards you with a better harvest later in the season. In terms of fruit trees, remember to prune apples, pears, and figs, but not stone fruits, so leave cherries, apricots, plums, and peaches alone to avoid silver leaf disease.
To prune tree branches, you may need something with a bit more cutting power than pruning shears. A quality pair of loppers (like these extendable bypass loppers at Walmart) can cut branches 1-2 inches in diameter, and a pruning saw can be used for those 2-5 inches wide.
Ornamental Grasses
If you grow ornamental grasses and haven’t yet cut them back, you should do so quickly at the start of April. The ideal time to cut back deciduous ornamental grasses is late winter or early spring. The plants offer structure and shelter in a winter wildlife garden, but need trimming ahead of the new season.
Cutting back before new growth starts coming through in spring is ideal. The longer you leave it, the more you risk accidentally trimming away emerging new shoots. So if you haven’t done it yet, the sooner you can in April, the better, as it reduces your chances of damaging the new growth.
Gather all the old stems together and cut them down as close to the base as possible, to within a few inches of the ground. But keep a close eye on any new stems, and try not to cut the emerging ones. It may be easier said than done, depending on your climate.
A pair of thick gardening gloves, like these leather gauntlets at Amazon, is crucial when pruning grasses to avoid cutting your hands.
Old Perennials
Any old perennial plants left in your flower beds now want cutting back for spring. Whether the growth was left in place to provide shelter for wildlife or to insulate the crowns against freezing temperatures, it needs to be removed when new growth is starting to appear at the base of the plant.
Cut back old stems with a pair of pruning shears, cutting as close to the base as possible. If new shoots are showing at the base, cut an inch above this to avoid damaging them.
Clear away any old foliage or debris that may be harboring bacteria or fungi that can affect new growth, then mulch around the plants with organic matter.
Evergreen Shrubs and Hedges
April is an ideal month for pruning evergreen shrubs and hedges, provided the risk of frost has passed for your climate.
These low-maintenance shrubs can be shaped and trimmed in early to mid-spring. This timing stops frosts from damaging new shoots, and gives the shrub ample time to recover and grow before the main season – plus the pruning cuts will quickly get hidden by the new spring growth.
For shrubs, use a pair of pruning shears or hedge shears to create a natural look, something you cannot achieve with a hedge trimmer. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood and shape the shrub as required. But work lightly, and don’t remove more than a third of the growth.
The plants will benefit from feeding with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer after pruning, courtesy of a product like this all-purpose plant food at Burpee, as well as mulching to retain moisture in the soil.
Trees Pre and Post-Storms
Ahead of any storms, it is advisable to check trees and tall shrubs on your property for dead, damaged, or weak branches that may potentially come down and do damage. Removing these branches reduces the risk of harm to property or people and can help to open the canopy.
A more open canopy allows wind to pass through it, reducing the potential for broken limbs or uprooting.
After a storm, observe your trees for any signs of broken or hanging branches and remove them to prevent them from falling and doing damage.
An extendable pole saw like this Fiskars tree pruner and pole saw at Amazon can be used to remove smaller branches from high in the canopy. However, larger or more dangerous limbs are best dealt with by professional arborists.
Shop Pruning Tools
This three-tool set features steel-bladed bypass pruning shears, bypass loppers, and a folding pruning saw. It is all you need for trimming many perennials, shrubs, and trees.
This folding pruning saw has a six-inch blade with super-sharp, hardened steel teeth for effortlessly cutting through larger branches.
A budget-friendly pair of stainless steel Corona pruning shears that can cut stems up to 1/2-in diameter and have a cushioned grip for pain-free pruning.
What Not to Prune This April
Spring-Flowering Shrubs
This one may sound plain to see, but don’t prune spring-flowering shrubs that haven’t finished blooming for the year. Stand back and enjoy the blooms, rather than making a pruning mistake you’ll regret later.
Whether they bloom in early spring, such as forsythia, or later in the season, such as mock orange or weigela, any spring-flowering shrubs require trimming after their show has finished for the year.
These shrubs flower on old wood. As mentioned earlier, pruning after flowering gives these shrubs lots of time to put energy into developing new growth to form buds and carry next spring’s display.
Pruning before this year’s display has ended, or before it has really gotten going, simply deprives you of spring blooms to enjoy. Remember this simple rule: if your shrub blooms before June, prune it after flowering.
Early-Flowering Clematis
When you grow clematis, it can potentially be confusing, as different types require pruning at different times.
Group One clematis, which flowers early in spring, needs pruning after flowering, which can mean you prune this clematis in late spring or early summer. As they flower on old wood, it would be a clematis pruning mistake to trim in April, as you’d rob yourself of blooms.
The good news is that these Group One types don’t require lots of arduous pruning every year. Simply remove old flowers and thin older shoots to keep the climber healthy, compact, and packed with blooms.
Spring-Flowering Trees
As well as spring-flowering shrubs and climbers, gardeners should not prune trees that bloom in spring this April. That includes magnolia, cherries, lilac, serviceberry, and flowering dogwood trees.
When they require a trim, do so after the flowering show subsides. This avoids cutting off this year’s buds and gives the tree time to develop stems and next year’s buds for a strong display next spring.
Bleeder Trees
Some trees are known to bleed sap from pruning wounds, and are often referred to as ‘bleeder trees’. These include maple, birch, walnut, elm, and lime trees.
Losing sap can stress a tree, and pruning at certain times can minimize how much sap a tree loses. The sap of the trees highlighted above starts rising early in the spring, making them vulnerable to excessive bleeding if pruned in April.
Hydrangeas That Bloom on Old Wood
I mentioned earlier how new-wood hydrangeas are plants to prune in April, but not all hydrangeas are. If you have an old-wood hydrangea that blooms on stems formed the previous year, you would remove all this year’s flowers by trimming in early spring.
This is the case for old-wood bloomers like bigleaf (macrophylla) and oakleaf hydrangeas. These want pruning after flowering in summer, and not this month. It is crucially important to know the blooming habits of your shrub when pruning hydrangeas to avoid making cuts that remove this year’s buds.
Don’t Prune Anything in Extreme Weather
With more extreme weather predicted for April, you want to avoid doing anything that stresses plants or puts yourself at risk.
It is inadvisable to prune trees or shrubs heavily during periods of drought and extreme heat. Pruning, especially heavy pruning, can cause water loss, force the plant to use energy reserves to seal the cuts, and place huge stress on it. Unless it is vital for safety reasons, wait until the conditions improve.
Finally, it is very dangerous to prune trees during high winds. It is good to do proactive safety trimming ahead of a predicted storm, but never prune trees once the winds pick up.
April is traditionally a busy time for gardeners. If you wonder what to plant in April, look no further than these pieces on vegetables to plant in April, flowers to plant in April, and native perennials to plant in April. Our guides feature a wealth of plants to add to your backyard ideas for bursting flower beds or containers and fantastic harvests of homegrown crops.
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