Early Spring Tasks
Plant type: Ornamental grasses
Task: Cut as close to the ground as possible. Tying the tops before cutting makes the job fast and easy.
Plant type: Semiwoody perennials (butterfly bush, Russian sage)
Task: Cut back to about 4" to produce strong new stems and best flower display.
Plant type: Broad-leaved evergreens (boxwood, holly firethorn)
Task: Prune out stems with winter-injured foliage. Wait until later in the spring to shear or hedge so new growth will quickly cover cut tips.
Plant type: Summer-flowering trees, shrubs, vines, hydrangea, and roses
Task: Remove dead, damaged, or crowded stems, shape or reduce size if desired. Summer flower buds develop on new growth. Keeping fertilized and moist will maximize your number of blooms and size.