Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Pruning trees and shrubs does more than make them more attractive. It also reduces the risk of branches and stems breaking and increases clearance in driveways and sidewalks. But pruning improperly can harm your tree or shrub's health and appearance.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Gardening Tips: Late Winter Pruning
• Gardening Tips: Pruning, an Art Best Learned by Experience
• Pruning: Dr. Edward Gilman

UF/IFAS Publications

• Community Tree Care
• Pruning and Training Deciduous Fruit Trees for the Dooryard
• Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs
• Poda de Arbustos para Setos (Tree and Shrub Pruning) (Spanish, PDF)
• Tree Density, Hedging, and Topping

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Hiring a Quality Arborist
• Pruning Trees and Shrubs
• Tree Pruning for Hurricanes

Other Sites

• Best Time to Prune Trees and Shrubs--University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Follow Proper Pruning Techniques--Texas Cooperative Extension
• A Guide to Successful Pruning of Shrubs--Virginia Cooperative Extension
• How to Prune Trees--U.S. Forestry Service
• Pruning Ornamental Shrubs--Missouri Cooperative Extension
• Pruning Shrubs--Clemson Extension (PDF)
• Pruning Trees and Shrubs--University of Minnesota Extension