Which plants, shrubs, hedges and fruit trees need to be pruned in May?

May is the time for spring pruning, to remove dry leaves and branches destroyed by winter frosts. But what are the fruit trees, shrubs and plants to prune in May? Let's find out how to do the pruning work this month

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In May, shrubs, some indoor evergreen plants, but also various fruit trees can be pruned.

We are in full spring pruning, through which it is necessary to clean the plants from foliage and dry branches; specifically, it is necessary to eliminate all the parts killed by the frost, in order to promote growth and greater flowering.

(Read also: Which trees, shrubs and climbing plants need to be pruned in April?)

Index

Spring flowering shrubs

Which plants, shrubs, hedges and fruit trees need to be pruned in May?

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Shrubs that bloom on stems that formed the previous year need to be pruned now. Among these we remember:

called
blooming quince
forsythia
lilac

To prune these plants, remove all frost-killed stems to encourage new growth from the bottom of the plant.

Tender shrubs

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- tender shrubs include all those plants that can be damaged by late frosts, such as theibisco.

Pruning work on this type of shrub is to encourage strong new growth for next year. Remove the oldest, woody stems down to the base. You could also use shears or a saw for thick branches.

Fruit trees

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Prune the fruit trees removing the new growth will encourage the formation of new fruit. The species to be pruned in May are:

apples
cherries
pears
prunes
apricot

How to do it: Get rid of excess new growth. The goal is to create a space that allows more light and air to enter through the tree. This will help the fruit ripen. You can also use loppers, a pruning saw, or long range pruners.

Hedges

As for garden hedges, we recommend that you reduce their growth in the current season in order to maintain their shape. The species to be pruned in May are:

privet
laurel
lonicera nitida

To do a perfect pruning job, you can use small hedge shears or shears to give your shrub a better shape.

Evergreen

All evergreens are slightly tender and shouldn't be pruned too early, as the stems become more vulnerable to frost damage. Late May is the ideal time to prune them in order to maintain their shape, control their size and remove the stems damaged from last winter. Between evergreen plants to be pruned now we find, for example, the camellia.

How to do it: Remove about a third of the old wood, eliminating any crosses and congested branches. Trim new growth to reshape the plant, and cut off too long stems. Always cut back just above a bud.

Could it be interesting for you:

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Which evergreen plants, fruit trees or shrubs need to be pruned in December?