Winter Pruning Tips

[@arlene5734]

Thank you for the video!…please do one on sharpening hand tools, and an updated video on installing drip.

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Pruning is one of the most creative aspects of gardening. It's fun to see what you can do to reveal the plant's best natural shape. I will watch every pruning show.

[@mt2766]

Me, too!

[@8helenjhouston8]

I LOVE the pruning videos!!! Thank you - I have sooooo much to learn…

[@mt2766]

Even though I’m in zone 12a-where gardening is at least 60 percent pruning to avoid growing a jungle-it was so helpful to digest your winter pruning tips. It’s harder to know when plants go dormant in tropical climates, but it’s so important to get the timing right. Thanks, Jim!

[@SleepyKittens]

I learned to prune most paniculata before first snow, as climate change seems to be throwing double the snowfall in MN. And to be generous pruner for limelight or the blooms will be on weak long stems.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Jim, I also prune off the 'wildly independent' growth of my shrubs and trees to keep them in a more pleasing shape at most any time of the year. I wish I could grow things like the Cast Iron plants outside, but they are grown as houseplants in my climate. Have a great weekend! ~Margie

[@Murphyetal]

So much good pruning info! Learned a lot from this video!

[@TheLivingBackyard]

I actually love pruning! Great video!😍🌿

[@JLee-pc2vc]

Very helpful! Looking forward to more pruning videos!

[@saraw8503]

Perfect timing. After a brief cold spell here on the NC coast, we are expecting warm temps later in the week (first week of Feb.) I have designated Thursday and Friday to be my garden clean up days.

[@jeffbnc]

I've been hoping for a pruning video. Thanks!

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

Sometimes it's worth sacrificing blooms in order to prune well. I have a forsythia that had turned into a terrible thicket and summer or even spring pruning would have been impossible. In winter it's easy to see the "skeleton" of the shrub, so it was very easy to figure out what to prune and what to leave. I lost many flowers but it was well worth it. Also some trees react very badly if they're not pruned in winter. They'll shoot out so called "water sprouts" if pruned when actively growing, which make the tree look terrible. Smoke tree and magnolias are well known for this. It felt great pruning my smoke tree knowing it could not react at all.

[@glendapeters8899]

I have one of those forsythia thickets I need to tackle. First warm sunny day I may do that. Not looking forward to the task but it's not getting any easier.

[@onetwocue]

Not just blooms, but fruits/flowers on a young fruiting trees. That's a devastating one to do.

[@ndchick1]

Super helpful! Thanks, Jim.

[@pennyduncan5980]

Always so thankful for your videos. Thank you for sharing your expertise

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for watching!

[@pennyk1943]

Thank you for your videos Jim. I always look forward to them especially because I also live in Raleigh. Can’t wait to plant some of the bushes you recommended for zone 7b. I’m going to be a copycat!🤷‍♀️👍. I wish I had all the space that you have. Thanks again❤️

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Excellent video on winter pruning! And you are sooo right....it's a satisfying feeling to prune but picking up the mes is another story! Take care

[@kivdronekim7916]

Great video Jim

[@lynamsden7681]

Many of the plants that I added to my landscape last year were the very ones you pruned in this video. Thanks for posting this. It came along at the perfect time.

[@gwynethgaspari6255]

Thanks for tips on weeping redbud pruning. Going to need to prune my ruby falls.

[@TuoInside]

Thanks Jim.

[@donnap6537]

Can I prune/cut way back clematis at mailbox now? It looks terrible 😞

[@kellytoycow]

Always timely! I’ve been waiting for this last snow/ice/rain/ what ever we end up getting this weekend to prune a few shrubs, and our high bush blueberries. (They we’re over six feet tall this last season) we know we’ll sacrifice some fruit, but these the previous homeowner neglected them for too many years. Have you ever done an informational on the best time to have trees done? We have a couple 20- something year old maples on our property easement that have been victims of The power company’s trimming - we really want to even the poor dears out! (Also zone 7B Alamance County)

[@dianepuskas6362]

A shout out to a previous video with Mark Weathington. Thank you to Mark for explaining how to prune a Mahonia. I learned I was not doing it correctly! My Oregon Grape (mahonia aquifolium) will be happier soon here in 7B NJ. Thanks for all your videos, I always learn something new.

[@JimPutnam]

Yes, he's a wealth of information!

[@patriciaglass1743]

Thanks for the pruning video. You said you put the trimmings from the hydrangea into the compost pile. Do you mow or cut up the sticky or woody growth first?

[@kandidag1293]

Is this a good time to prune roses, too? I have some super-overgrown roses-about 7 foot tall. I’m in NC zone 8a. Thanks!

[@gracem6795]

You once mentioned, that you will show how to tree traine chineese snowball viburnum. I would uppreciate a video about it. Thank you!

[@JimPutnam]

Mine is small. Should get to growing this year. I will show it as it grows

[@tazmankb26]

Jim- I noticed you skipped over the Leopard plant in back when doing the Cast Iron. Yours looks much better than mine here in N TX. Mine are completely laid over but do not know if I should remove or wait till spring new growth.

[@SleepyKittens]

I would wait until some new growth, but I am in MN, where late frost are killers and last year foliage can make a difference of protection. I pruned early one year when there was abnormal warming early, and then frost hit again, and lost many varieties of plants. You could still have a freak cold spell like last year.

[@Rougebasque]

always interesting. Thanks for teaching us!

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Thank You Jim 🤗🥰🤗

[@billsmith8339]

First, I enjoy and learn with all your videos ... so thank you. I have come to the conclusion after trimming last year that I have to spread out some shrubs - dwarf barberries and a similar shrub but yellow (I don't know what the name was) because they have grown too close to the larger shrubs behind them (globe shaped boxwoods and burning bushes). I thought 4' would have been enough, but everything has grown right up into each other. Since I plan to only move them out a couple of feet, can I do it now in the spring? There about 15 of them across the front of the house and I want to keep the "landscape police" (suffice to say I will never recommend moving into a HOA governed area!) from complaining too much. I'm in zone 6a.

[@aalejardin]

So helpful. I know what I need to get out to do in my landscape. Here in the Hudson Valley we are expecting a nor'easter with a lot of snow. It was 3 degrees first thing this morning (Zone 6b) but warming up a bit and sunny so no more excuses!

[@JimPutnam]

I saw that. Be safe, spring is coming

[@coffeecakes1]

Checked your website because I'm interested in a consultation. Do you only do video consults, or would you be able to come to our home if we are local to Raleigh?

[@todaysgarden2635]

when is the best time to prune crabapples? I am in Conn. zone 6b. if you mentioned it, I missed it; thank you.

[@kaylac3367]

I look forward to the video about controlling the size. Normally we are told to prune hydrangeas in early spring. But I have found that I have to trim mine back just as you did because of the snow and ice we've been getting. Otherwise the weight of snow/ice would splay them open and they'd be on the ground. They turn out beautifully in the spring/summer. I also appreciate the trimming tip on the trees that have a tall wild branch. I've got a crabapple i need to take care of that same issue. Thanks for sharing your tips today.

[@cathyhatfield5340]

Great tips thanks👍❤️

[@Edu_Kate]

What brands are your tools? I loved hearing the solid sounds they made.

[@RevAcres01]

Share my time between 4a everything goes dormant and you know when to trim to 10a never dormant and I trim to control a jungle. Thanks for the great video.

[@clairehenning2710]

Lots of great information! What kind of hedge shears do you recommend?

[@vehuko]

Is it recommended to cut the leader of a green giant or similar evergreen for height control and branching? Would that sacrifice the natural shape of the tree? I have a green giant arborvitae and a cryptomeria that are tall and skinny much like your mahonia in the video. For privacy I would prefer more branching. Love your content, would never miss a new video. 👍

[@marythomson3229]

How close to the ground should I prune back Little Lime Hydrangeas? They were put out in March 2921 in north Alabama. Love the videos!

[@katherinec7698]

Well now I’m ready to get my pruners out and trim with confidence. Thank you! Will you be trimming your Japanese maple? I’d like to know how/when that should be done.

[@jackiequeen4481]

I live in zone 6 a, I believe it is and I have a couple of kiwi plants 6 years old. They haven't bloomed and I'm wondering how to prune them. Any advice?

[@johnmorris7302]

Jim I'm in zone 7a and cut my dwarf butterfly bush in November. Do you think it will come back.

[@luigi298]

My Buddleia is a dwarf variety. It is currently only 1 foot tall. Should I even bother trimming it?

[@LinusCello75]

Could you “force” the flowers from the pruned branches of the red bud? What about pruning other flowering shrubs to force flowers ( flowering quince); too early?

[@pfmastin]

I really enjoy your channel...have learned a lot. Don't know if you have time to answer questoins.... I'm in ENC Zone 8a....can I trim my Steed's hollies now? I never know when to do it.

[@JimPutnam]

Yes, they can be done anytime between now and mid summer

[@elizabethtowe7470]

Jim, RE: My butterfly bushes are 5 feet tall & still have green foliage on them - should I cut them back now like you’ve done the one in your front garden? I’m Z8a NE NC 🌱

[@MDA-rs4uf]

Some folks may want to cut back tired muhly grass but DO NOT be tempted...the straw shape leaves get water in them and will freeze and die so wait till no chance of freezing at all and then cut it...

[@anitahadley2871]

I just did some pruning on my container grown blueberries. I watched some videos but I’m still not confident that I did it right. My Sunshine Blue already has flower buds and it was hard to get rid of them but I guess it’s good to do from what I read. The Pink Lemonade, both in same pot, is a bit behind. Will you be pruning yours this year? Mine are probably 4 years old. I planted them right after you made that video on growing in containers! I will have to see when that was.

[@JimPutnam]

I will be doing a little pruning on mine in another video

[@valerieenlow6282]

I have two dwarf butterfly bushes. My first year growing them. They were planted last spring. I live in zone 8 and they are not dormant like yours. Do I still prune them in February or wait until March??

[@joeym5355]

Hey Jim I saw Japanese Maples at Home Depot for sale . I live in 7B Roanoke Virginia . Can I buy and plant it right now or wait . I saw them Outside but don't know how long.

[@ericaallen2756]

Great info. Thanks for sharing!

[@justinwillaims3010]

do you have any toad lilies in your landscape?

[@patdelaney191]

Will you plant the chopped top of the Mahonia? New shrub for free.😊

[@JimPutnam]

No, but they do root easily. Beautiful yellow roots!

[@Flower_hoarder]

🌿✂️🌿ALWAYS HELPFUL ‼️🌿✂️🌿

[@rosiesingleton6480]

Do you replace compost every year or just mulch ?

[@JimPutnam]

Just the mulch, except in my vegetable garden. Vegetable garden gets new compost

[@doctortcbkk2027]

I worry with our wacky southern weather that pruning my hydrangeas now , we will have a warm front and then freeze again. Will that damage chances for pretty blooms?

[@JimPutnam]

It won't hurt your paniculatas

[@cordsen_L]

Would you prune ferns like you do hellebores and cast iron plants if at all?

[@JimPutnam]

I would use the opportunity to clean them up. Same as I did the cast iron 0lant

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

So now would be the time to do crepe myrtles? Not murder them just do some light pruning on them?

[@JimPutnam]

Yes, definitely!

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

@@JimPutnam perfect thank you!

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

That yellow leave was bothering me … 🤪

[@karenschrantz2307]

When can I prune Abelias and boxwoods?

[@JimPutnam]

Now for sure. In next week's video

[@karenschrantz2307]

@@JimPutnam Awesome thank you! Learning so much but afraid to do it wrong😩

[@MDA-rs4uf]

Question: in all you travels, have you ever seen a good way to prune and grow fatshedera?? The deer love it so I typically put a cage around mine, especially the ones away from the house. I just don't see a good way to grow these things except to stake them up and perhaps limb them up to help them be less gangly...if you have a suggestion that you have seen at other gardens I'll listen....thx...

[@JimPutnam]

I've always grown them against the foundation so that I can put a screw in the wall and tie them up like a vine.

[@chriscoogan2736]

Details! Woo-Hoo! 🙂 Tongue-In-Cheek making fun of my perfectionism.

[@ya-ya1766]

I was screaming there’s one in the front on the cast iron plant.

[@vernellevale2226]

Should you clean your tools when pruning different plants/trees?

[@sammysworld5485]

I’m so confused. I always see other gardeners on KZbin not recommending winter pruning because it can hurt the plant or shrub from being exposed to the cold elements which can damage the stems or branches. Are you proving this isn’t true at all?! Please clarify further.

[@JimPutnam]

Once they are fully dormant you can prune anything. There are grasses and perennials with hollow stems that you should wait on. Also I don't prune a lot of evergreens sure hard because they look terrible for several weeks. But no reason to really worry if they are dormant

[@jilladcock5648]

So envious of your zone 7b weather. I’m looking at at a frozen tundra and can only dream about being in my garden again….

[@dorindajenkins7825]

👋😃

[@Brandon-yr3nj]

at first thought the video title literally meant pruning *tips* of branches

[@emmalouie1663]

Mahonias are the most unattractive plants, I just cut a Mahonia today in my parent's yard.