Deadheading and Pruning: What to Cut Back in Spring

As we leave the cold weather behind and signs of life return to your garden, it's time to get your landscape in shape for a healthy and beautiful growing season. Two essential spring tasks are deadheading and pruning—but knowing what to cut, when, and how can make all the difference between a flourishing garden and a struggling one.

Here’s a practical guide to what to cut back this spring—and why it matters.

🌼 What Is Deadheading?

Deadheading is the process of removing spent blooms from flowering plants. This encourages the plant to redirect energy from seed production to new growth and flowering.

Common Plants That Benefit from Spring Deadheading:

• Daffodils, Tulips, and Hyacinths: Once blooms fade, snip them off—but leave the foliage until it yellows and dies back.

• Roses: Remove old blooms and shape the plant to encourage bushier growth.

• Perennials like Coneflower and Black-eyed Susan: Deadheading helps promote a second wave of blooms.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t deadhead flowers if you're growing them specifically for seed collection or winter interest (like echinacea or ornamental grasses).

✂️ What Is Pruning?

Pruning involves cutting back stems, branches, or even roots to encourage healthy growth, shape the plant, and remove dead or diseased material. Spring is the ideal time to prune many plants—especially before new growth gets underway.

What to Prune in Spring (and Why):

🌳 Shrubs That Bloom in Summer (e.g., Hydrangea paniculata, Butterfly Bush)

• Why: These bloom on new wood—meaning this year’s growth. Pruning in early spring stimulates fresh growth and bigger blooms.

🌿 Ornamental Grasses

• Why: Trim them back to a few inches above the ground before new shoots emerge for a tidy appearance and healthy regrowth.

🌸 Roses (Hybrid Teas, Floribunda, Knock Out)

• Why: Pruning in early spring shapes the bush and encourages prolific flowering. Remove weak, crossing, or dead stems.

🌱 Perennials (e.g., Sedum, Salvia, Catmint)

• Why: Cut back dead stalks and trim to shape once new growth is visible. This gives perennials a fresh start.

🪵 Dead or Damaged Branches on Trees and Shrubs

• Why: Removing dead, diseased, or winter-damaged wood prevents disease spread and improves plant structure.

  
  

What Not to Prune in Spring

Timing matters. Some plants bloom on old wood—last year’s growth—and pruning in spring may remove their flower buds.

🚫 Avoid pruning these in early spring:

• Lilacs

• Forsythia

• Azaleas

• Rhododendrons

• Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Instead, prune these just after they finish blooming.

Final Tips for Success:

• Use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts and avoid spreading disease.

• Prune on a dry day to reduce the risk of fungal infections.

• Don’t overdo it—when in doubt, less is more.