Spring Pruning & What Shrubs to Leave Alone!

Whitney Laritson | February 14, 2026

Spring is coming soon in southern areas and to the coasts. We wait as patiently as possible for it to work its way north from there.

Upon your first spin around your yard in spring you will tend to take your pruning or hedge shears with you. There are many trees and shrubs that will appreciate some necessary pruning, and there are some plants that you should not prune during winter or early spring.

Let’s cover some plants that are best NOT pruned in early spring. Basically, any early spring flowering shrub or tree should not be pruned because you will be removing the flower display – really the whole reason to grow those plants.

Flowering Shrubs to Leave Alone

Azaleas and Rhododendrons

A prime example of a plant that should not be pruned now.

All of the flower buds are in the tips of each of the branches just waiting for the temperature to warm enough to get those buds moving. Many of the varieties and selections under the Rhododendron umbrella form the flower buds last summer where they remain dormant and hidden away until the spring temperatures allow this Genus of plants to bust out with incredible flower displays.

Pruning is best done right after the flowers begin to fade. Many people don’t think pruning Azaleas and Rhododendrons is necessary, but they respond beautifully to pruning to maintain uniformity and more compact plants. Even the reblooming and everblooming Rhododendrons are best pruned after the first spring bloom.

Flowering Quince

These are another early spring blooming shrub that should not be pruned now. There are many new selections of Quince that have been introduced in more recent years. Flowering Quince has beautiful orange,red, salmon, pink, white and many of the new ones are very double. With Quince too, the best time to prune all varieties is right after they flower so sit back and enjoy the flowers before you do any pruning on any of them too.

Forsythia

Forsythia is another early spring blooming shrub that can have flowers for almost a month before the leaves even emerge! There have been a lot of new selections that have been introduced that stay smaller and produce flowers all along the stems. Forsythia branches can be cut and forced indoors in a vase of water.

As soon as the flowers fade, that is the best time to prune Forsythia. Maybe you have an older overgrown forsythia shrub? As soon as the flowers are done blooming you can cut all of the stem to the ground without sacrificing any bloom for next year too. If it is not that overgrown you can just remove the oldest stems out to the ground and leave the thinner, younger stems to allow the plant to keep its more natural form.

Lilacs

Both tree form and shrub form lilacs are another broad group encompassing many different species, hybrids and cultivars. Nature Hills offers early blooming, mid-season, and even Canadian selections that bloom very late spring. With all Lilacs, do not trim them now. Lilac plants make their flowers in the growth that follows after the blooms are done.

So, with each Lilac, wait until the flowers are done blooming - and then prune. With lilac shrubs, renewal pruning by removing the oldest stems out to the ground leaving the younger stems in place. For re-blooming varieties, it is best to also renewal prune them right after the first set of flowers for super results.

Weigela

These shrubs have had a lot of breeding done for smaller sizes, unique leaf color and lots of bloom. Although Weigela are very floriferous, the best flowers are born on last year’s stems. It is important to let the late spring blooms come before you do pruning on them.

After the flowers finish, then you can prune any stems that need shortening or some of the older stems can be removed right down to the ground. The beauty of most selections of Weigela is they bloom heavily in late spring, and again later in summer.

It is best to make a note of the best time to prune some of your favorite flowering shrubs so that you are not sacrificing the blooms. It’s also helpful to keep in mind some plant types have different subgroups that need to be pruned at different times like hydrangeas. We have some helpful resources for those of you looking to tackle pruning hydrangea.

An early happy spring from your friends at Nature Hills!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which spring-flowering shrubs should I avoid pruning in spring to protect next season's blooms?

Avoid pruning azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering quince, and forsythia in early spring, as their flower buds were set the previous summer and are already waiting on the branch tips to open. Cutting them back before they bloom means sacrificing the entire flower display for that season. The golden rule for all of these shrubs is to prune immediately after the flowers begin to fade, which gives the plant the maximum amount of time to set new buds for the following year. Hold off on those shears until bloom time has passed, then prune promptly so the shrub can recover and prepare for next spring.

How do I know if a shrub blooms on old wood or new wood before I start pruning?

The easiest rule of thumb is timing: if a shrub blooms in early spring before or just as the leaves emerge, it almost certainly blooms on old wood set the previous summer, meaning any winter or early spring pruning will remove those buds. Plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince all fall into this category. For new wood bloomers like roses and crape myrtles, which flower in summer, pruning in late winter or early spring actually encourages better blooms. When in doubt, wait until after the first flowering period to prune, and you will never sacrifice a season of blooms.

How and when should I prune a rhododendron without harming next year's flowers?

Rhododendrons set their flower buds in summer, so pruning in late winter or early spring will remove next year's blooms. The best window to prune is immediately after the flowers begin to fade in spring, which allows the plant enough time to set new buds for the following season. Use clean, sharp shears to cut back stems for shape and compactness, and even reblooming varieties should receive their primary pruning right after that first spring flush.

What shrubs are safe to prune in early spring before new growth begins?

Early spring pruning is best reserved for summer and fall blooming shrubs, as well as deciduous trees and shrubs that do not put on a significant flower display. Shrubs that bloom on new growth, such as certain roses, butterfly bush, and panicle hydrangeas, can be pruned now without sacrificing their bloom. Avoid pruning early spring bloomers like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince before they flower, as the buds are already set and waiting to open. When in doubt, wait until after a shrub finishes blooming before reaching for your shears.

Why do some shrubs lose their blooms after a spring pruning?

Many spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince set their flower buds the previous summer, meaning those buds overwinter on the branch tips and are ready to open as soon as temperatures rise. When you prune these shrubs in late winter or early spring, you are cutting off the very buds that would have produced your flower display. To preserve next season's blooms, always wait until just after the flowers begin to fade before picking up your shears.

How do I prune overgrown flowering shrubs in spring without sacrificing the flower show?

The key to pruning overgrown flowering shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince is timing: always wait until right after the flowers fade before picking up your shears. These plants set their flower buds the previous summer, so pruning in winter or early spring means cutting off the very blooms you are waiting for. For severely overgrown forsythia, you can cut all stems back to the ground immediately after flowering without sacrificing next year's display. Enjoy the full flower show first, then prune promptly once blooms begin to fade so the plant has the entire growing season to set new buds for next spring.

Can I trim shrubs in spring if they have not finished blooming yet?

Q: Can I trim shrubs in spring if they have not finished blooming yet? If your shrubs are still blooming, hold off on pruning. Early spring bloomers like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince set their flower buds the previous summer, and cutting them now means losing the very display you grew them for. The golden rule is to wait until the flowers begin to fade before making any cuts. Once blooming has finished, prune promptly so the shrub has the full growing season to set next year's buds.

How do I deadhead or tidy up spring-flowering shrubs without accidentally cutting off future buds?

The key to tidying spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince is timing your pruning immediately after their blooms begin to fade, not before. These plants set their flower buds the previous summer, so any cuts made in late winter or early spring will remove the buds and eliminate your flower display for that season. Stick to removing only dead, damaged, or crossing branches before bloom, and save any shaping or deadheading for the two to four week window right after flowering ends. Mark your calendar when you first see blooms open so you can plan to get out with your shears as soon as the petals drop.

What is the best way to tell if my shrub has already set its buds for next spring?

The easiest way to check for set buds is to look closely at the branch tips in late fall or early winter, as most early-blooming shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and flowering quince form their flower buds the previous summer and they remain visible and dormant through the cold months. Flower buds are typically plumper and more rounded than the slimmer, pointed growth buds, and you may even see the faint color of petals beginning to form inside. If you spot these swollen buds along the stems or at branch tips before spring arrives, hold off on any pruning until after the blooms have faded to avoid sacrificing that season's flower display.

Should I wait until after bloom time to prune lilacs, forsythia, and other early spring shrubs?

Yes, early spring flowering shrubs like forsythia, lilacs, azaleas, rhododendrons, and flowering quince set their flower buds the previous summer, so pruning before they bloom removes the very display you are waiting for. The ideal window to prune these shrubs is right after the flowers begin to fade, which still gives the plant the entire growing season to set new buds for next year. For overgrown forsythia, you can even cut the entire shrub to the ground immediately after bloom without sacrificing next year's flowers. Mark your calendar for just after peak bloom and keep your shears ready for that short window.