Several days ago, a post on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Program Facebook page caught my eye: “Winter is a great time to do some pruning! Here are all the things you can prune in February!” This joyful pronouncement was followed by a list of native and non-native shrubs that can be pruned this month.

“Well, you can go outside in this frigid weather and prune all you want. I’m staying inside to read and drink tea for a couple more weeks,” I told the Facebook post. The information is correct, though; it is time to begin pruning shrubs, including beautyberry, clethra, crape myrtle, dogwood, deciduous holly, and summer-blooming hydrangea, as well as some deciduous and evergreen trees.

I checked my table of “Gardening Corner” columns, and found that I hadn’t written about spring pruning since March 2018, so I think it is time for a refresher for all of us. 

February 15 through March 15 is considered the prime pruning period for many tree and shrub varieties ...