What time of year to trim back shrubs/plants

[Sam1]

Found a million different answers on the interwebs, but I have a strip of bushes, no clue what they are.  they've been trimmed to about 7 feet tall, 2 feet wide. and the top 2-3 feet of them has about 50% dead in them from the ice storm last year.  Want to cut that entire section out, but not too sure what time this fall they should be cut.  Is there a general rule around TN for doing this, or is it literally any time in the fall that is ok to chop them?

[Gun Smith]

My rule of thumb (not green) is when they need it.   Haven't killed one yet.  :)

 

I once purchased a house that had way overgrown crepe myrtles by the road.  I could not see to pull out onto the road.   I was out their cutting them back when the old man sitting on his porch hollered over "your ruining them!!!".   I  asked what he meant.  He said that if I trimmed them before they bloom that they would not bloom that year.   I told him I didn't care because if I get hit by a oncoming car I may never bloom again.

 

So, if it's something that blooms, you may hinder that.

[Wingshooter]

I trim my holly and boxwood shurbs when they get shabby (about this time of year). In fact, I may do mine today. I've done that for 10 years at this house and they are still healthy. Never lost one. I turned the tips of a boxwood brown once, but that was because I did some EXTREME cutbacks on it in mid-summer. If youre only taking off new growth on green shrubs, it should be fine.

For crepe myrtles, i wait until about February before they bloom

Edit: I'll trim unwanted new growth (suckers) or dead limbs out of crepes throughout the summer. Just know that there will be no blooms this year where you trim. Edited August 22, 2015 by Wingshooter

[kieefer]

That's really all you need to know, IF you would like them to bloom next spring, assuming they are flowering shrubs, its best to wait till Oct. through Feb. before butchering them.

IF you're not concerned with that, have at it.

[Ugly]

My rule of thumb (not green) is when they need it.   Haven't killed one yet.   :)

 

I once purchased a house that had way overgrown crepe myrtles by the road.  I could not see to pull out onto the road.   I was out their cutting them back when the old man sitting on his porch hollered over "your ruining them!!!".   I  asked what he meant.  He said that if I trimmed them before they bloom that they would not bloom that year.   I told him I didn't care because if I get hit by a oncoming car I may never bloom again.

 

So, if it's something that blooms, you may hinder that.

 

Me too, I've trimmed a 25' tall crepe myrtle down to 4' with a chain saw, they grew to 25' again that year! And bloomed.

 

Since then I just cut whatever needs cutting when it needs it.  Of course the ol lady holds me back otherwise I'd be cutting most things down to dirt level :), I'm not a fan of trimming stuff, especially hedges. 

Edited August 22, 2015 by Ugly

[DWARREN123]

Trim any time you want/need to. Best time is after the first frost, they are preparing for winter at that time.

Especially fruits and flowering growths.

[Ski]

It is safe to trim dead wood any time, but live wood is best cut during winter or after the blooms die depending on the bush. For example, Azaleas are best pruned after the blooms die.

[Sam1]

The bushes, I have no clue what they are but they don't flower.  Guess I'll go ahead and take them out today.

 

Thanks

[SupaRice]

Must've been something in the air, I trimmed mine today too!

[Lumber_Jack]

The bushes, I have no clue what they are but they don't flower. Guess I'll go ahead and take them out today.

Thanks

Post a pic. I'm sure we can identify.

The best time to prune most shrubs is when the shears are in your hand.

[peejman]

Bushy shrubs can generally be done any time, though late winter right before they start growing again may be best. Otherwise, I prune most all my trees and bushes in late fall to early winter.

[Grand Torino]

I prune my stuff when it's cold enough to wear a coat and I don't have to deal with ticks and everything else.

[Sam1]

Post a pic. I'm sure we can identify.

The best time to prune most shrubs is when the shears are in your hand.

 

[bud]

. Edited September 28, 2015 by bud

[Lumber_Jack]

Cleyera.

Bingo


http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cleyera/japanese-cleyera-information.htm

[Sam1]

Thanks guys, it sounds like I did the right thing by taking a chainsaw to it instead of just using some hedge trimmer and knocking off the tips.

[hipower]

Me too, I've trimmed a 25' tall crepe myrtle down to 4' with a chain saw, they grew to 25' again that year! And bloomed.
 
Since then I just cut whatever needs cutting when it needs it.  Of course the ol lady holds me back otherwise I'd be cutting most things down to dirt level :), I'm not a fan of trimming stuff, especially hedges.

I think Crepe myrtles are the cockroaches of the plant world. you can't kill them.

Upon moving to our current home, my wife wanted them cut back from around the garage. I did. Then said why don't we just remove about half of them. Again, I did.

Just cut them down with a saw and clippers. Dug up the root balls and threw them out beside the road for garbage pickup.

Those suckers started rooting again.

We now have another line of them. They just won't die.

[Patton]

As previously noted they are Cleyeras and you can prune them anytime since they do not bloom. On a side note, they can be prone to cold damage in Tennessee.

[GKar]

In general, if it flowers in the spring (sets buds on old growth), prune it right after it blooms in the spring - that will help maximize bloom production the next year.  If it blooms later in the summer (sets buds on new growth), its generally best to prune it in cold weather before it begins to emerge.  If it doesn't bloom...well...have at it when the spirit moves ya...