10 Spring-Blooming Plants You Should Never Prune Now

Avoid cutting off this year's flowers by waiting to trim these plants until after they bloom.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As the weather warms up, many gardeners are eager to start pruning their plants. However, there are certain spring-blooming shrubs and trees that should be left alone until after they finish flowering. Pruning these plants now would remove this year's blossoms. The article outlines 10 common spring-blooming species, including dogwood, redbud, magnolia, hydrangea, camellia, azalea, viburnum, forsythia, lilac, and weigela, that are best left unpruned until their flowers have dropped.

Why it matters

Knowing when to prune different plants is crucial for maintaining the health and appearance of your garden. Pruning spring-bloomers at the wrong time can inadvertently cut off the current season's flowers, depriving you of their beautiful spring displays. This guidance helps gardeners time their pruning correctly to avoid ruining the floral show.

The details

Many spring-blooming plants, such as dogwoods, redbuds, and lilacs, bloom on 'old wood' or last year's growth. Pruning them now would remove this year's buds and flowers. Other spring bloomers like azaleas and viburnums set their flower buds in the summer, so pruning in spring would also cut off the blooms. The article advises waiting until after the plants have finished flowering, usually in late spring or early summer, before pruning them if necessary to remove dead wood, shape, or control size.

  • Spring-blooming plants set their flower buds in the summer.
  • Most spring-blooming plants flower in early to mid-spring.

The players

Colin Kirk

The Marjorie G. Rosen Manager of Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden.

Megan Proska

The associate vice president of horticulture and collections at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The buds of spring-blooming deciduous plants are already set. So if you prune now, you're cutting off the blooms.”

— Colin Kirk, The Marjorie G. Rosen Manager of Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden

“It's okay to prune summer-blooming shrubs now, such as crepe myrtle and abelia, because they bloom on 'new wood' or this year's growth. But stay away from spring-blooming shrubs, which will not have time to recover. Once your shrubs have flowered, it's fine to shape them, as needed.”

— Megan Proska, Associate vice president, horticulture and collections at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The takeaway

Timing your pruning correctly is key to maintaining the health and beauty of your garden. By waiting to prune spring-blooming plants until after their flowers have faded, you can enjoy their full seasonal displays without inadvertently cutting off this year's blooms.