Pruning Guide
Expert pruning Tips
From Our ISA-Certified Arborist Jay Stephen
🌿 Why Prune?
Pruning isn’t just about keeping your trees and shrubs tidy — it’s a critical part of plant health. Proper pruning:
- Encourages strong structure and balanced growth
- Improves air circulation and light penetration
- Removes dead, diseased, or damaged limbs
- Reduces risk of storm damage
- Enhances flowering, fruiting, and overall beauty
🧠 Jay's Insight
“Every cut should have a reason — whether it's for health, safety, or shape. Don't just prune to control size; prune to guide your plant's future.”
1. Pruning Conifers (Evergreens)
🌲 Examples
Spruce, Pine, Cedar, Juniper
🕐 Best Time
Late winter to early spring, before new growth begins (usually February–April).
✂️ Techniques
- Focus on light shaping only.
- Never cut into old wood – especially with pine and juniper – as these do not regenerate from brown interior growth.
- Remove: Dead or diseased branches and Crossed or rubbing limbs
- For Spruce & Fir: Cut back to a side bud or branch junction, not flush to the trunk.
- For Pine: In spring, gently pinch back new “candles” (young shoots) to control shape.
🚫 Avoid
- Shearing or topping
- Pruning during fall or mid-summer
📸 Jay's Snapshot Tip
"Look for the candle – it’s where the pine wants to grow next. Pinch to guide, not to stunt."
2. Pruning Deciduous Trees (Prairie-Hardy Varieties)
🌲 Examples
Ash, Maple, Linden, Elm, Amur Cherry, Poplar
🕐 Best Time
Late winter to early spring (February–April), while trees are dormant and before sap starts running.
✂️ Techniques
- Develop a strong central leader and balanced scaffold branches.
- Annually remove:
- Suckers (base shoots)
- Water sprouts (upright shoots on trunks or branches)
- Rubbing or dead limbs
- Suckers (base shoots)
- Shape young trees consistently for the first 3–5 years.
🚫 Avoid
- Amur Cherry: Thin out dense inner branches to improve airflow and reduce fungal issues.
- Maple Trees: Prune only in mid-winter to prevent sap bleeding.
📸 Jay's Snapshot Tip
"A young tree is like a teenager — you’re guiding its form before it becomes too set in its ways.”
3. Pruning Shrubs
🌲 Examples
Dogwood, Lilac, Potentilla, Ninebark, Spirea
🕐 Best Time
Spring-blooming shrubs (e.g., Lilac): Prune after flowering.
Summer-blooming shrubs (e.g., Spirea, Potentilla): Prune early spring before growth begins.
✂️ Techniques
- Use renewal pruning: remove 1/3 of oldest stems every 2–3 years.
- Thin from the base to promote vigorous new shoots.
- Maintain natural form, avoid excessive shearing.
💡 Example
Ninebark: Responds well to hard pruning every few years to rejuvenate bark color and reduce legginess.
📸 Jay's Snapshot Tip
"Think of shrubs like a fountain – prune to keep the flow moving from the ground up."
4. Pruning Perennials
🌲 Examples
Hosta, Daylilies, Coneflower, Peony, Ornamental Grasses
🕐 Best Time
Fall: Clean up spent growth and prep for winter.
Early Spring: Ideal for grasses and species that provide winter interest.
✂️ Techniques
- In fall: Cut back perennials to 3–6 inches above ground.
- In spring: Leave seedheads (like coneflower) for birds and natural beauty.
- Divide mature plants every 3–5 years to maintain vigor.
💡 Example
- Karl Foerster Grass: Cut back in early spring before new shoots emerge.
- Peonies: Remove foliage in fall to prevent overwintering disease.
📸 Jay's Snapshot Tip
"Leave seedheads through winter — they’re nature’s bird feeder and snow sculpture in one."
🛠️ General Pruning Tips
✅ DO:
- Use sharp, clean tools (sanitize between plants!).
- Cut at a 45° angle just above a bud or branch collar.
- Prune for health, structure, and function – not just looks.
- Take breaks and observe — pruning is as much about vision as it is technique.
❌ DON’T:
- Remove more than 25% of a tree’s canopy in one year.
- Leave large wounds that could invite pests or disease.
- Top trees — it’s harmful and causes erratic regrowth.
❄️ Prairie-Smart Pruning Reminders
Alberta’s climate demands careful timing and protection:
- Avoid late summer pruning, which can trigger late-season growth vulnerable to frost.
- Wrap young or thin-barked trees in fall to prevent sunscald and frost cracks.
- Water thoroughly and mulch after pruning to reduce stress and support recovery.
📸 Jay's Snapshot Tip
"Finish your pruning day like a pro — hydrate your trees and mulch their feet."
📞 Need Help?
Have a specific tree or pruning concern?
Reach out to our team — we’re happy to help with plant-specific guidance, pruning schedules, and more.
Top Affordable & Quality Pruning Tools in Alberta
📦 Where to Shop in Alberta
Canadian Tire (Wide range, local pickup & online)
Home Depot Canada (Often has seasonal pruning tool sales)
Peavey Mart (Especially good for rural and landscape-grade tools)
Lee Valley Tools (High-quality hand tools for serious gardeners)
Amazon.ca (Convenient and often cheaper if you check ratings)
🪴 Jay’s Pro Tip
“Spend the extra $10 for quality — a well-made tool stays sharp, feels better in your hand, and saves your plants from jagged cuts.”
1. Bypass Pruners (Hand Pruners)
Best for
Clean cuts on live stems and branches (up to ¾ inch thick)
Top Pick
Fiskars Bypass Pruner
✅ Sharp precision-ground blade
✅ Ergonomic handle and safety lock
💲 ~$20–$30
📍Available at: Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Amazon Canada, Peavey Mart
💡 Perfect for shrubs, roses, and perennials.
2. Loppers
Best for
Thicker branches (¾ to 2 inches)
Top Pick
Corona Compound Action Lopper (Model SL 3264)
✅ Strong steel blade with non-stick coating
✅ Compound action gives extra cutting power
💲 ~$45–$60
📍Available at: Home Hardware, Amazon Canada, UFA Co-op, Canadian Tire
💡 Great for pruning small trees and large woody shrubs.
3. Pruning Saw
Best for
Branches 2 inches or thicker
Top Pick
Bahco Folding Pruning Saw (Laplander 396-LAP)
✅ High-quality steel blade with anti-rust coating
✅ Lightweight and foldable (safe for toolbelt or pocket)
💲 ~$40–$55
📍Available at: Lee Valley Tools, Amazon Canada, Cabela’s
💡 Ideal for conifers, fruit trees, or dense deciduous limbs.
4. Pole Pruner / Pole Saw
Best for
Hard-to-reach branches up to 15 feet high
Top Pick
Fiskars Extendable Tree Pruner (12–16 ft)
✅ Chain-drive or rope-free cutting head
✅ Includes saw blade for thicker limbs
💲 ~$80–$120
📍Available at: Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Lowes, UFA
💡 Great for tree shaping without a ladder — safe and efficient.
5. Hedge Shears
Best for
Shaping shrubs, hedges, and topiary
Top Pick
Garant Pro Series Hedge Shears
✅ Aluminum handles and comfort grips
✅ Wavy blade for smooth cuts
💲 ~$35–$50
📍Available at: Home Hardware, Peavey Mart, Rona
💡 Works well on Ninebark, Spirea, or Dogwood shaping.
6. Essential Accessories
🧤 Gardening Gloves
Look for nitrile-coated or leather-palmed options
🌾 Tool Sharpener
Like the Corona AC 8300 sharpening tool (~$15)
🧽 Disinfectant Spray or Wipes
