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The most beautiful gardens are a year-round project. Seasoned gardeners know how to enjoy what’s blooming in the moment while planning for the seasons ahead. Now that it’s the height of summer, hydrangeas and roses might be putting on a show in your yard, but July is also a good time to think about prepping spring shrubs like forsythia and lilac for bountiful blooms in the spring, according to Master Gardener Rhonda Fleming Hayes, author of Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age and the Substack The Garden Buzz.
“Plants that bloom on old wood—last year’s growth—are pruned after flowering so as not to remove flower buds with a winter pruning,” she explains. “Many are those old-fashioned specimens that lend a romantic vibe to your gardens. The period right after blooming is a good opportunity to do any shaping of healthy plants, and a chance to renovate any neglected ones.”
Not sure where to start? Hayes shares her top picks for plants to prune before the end of July—and one you should avoid.
Mock Orange
True to its name, this shrub is covered with small flowers that smell like citrus. “Prune mock orange after the show of fragrant white blossoms in spring,” Hayes says. “Prune back older stems by a third and cut out dead branches at the base. Do any light shaping now.”
Weigela
When in bloom, these shrubs are loaded with pretty clusters of flowers that are in the honeysuckle family. Colors include white, pale pink, and deep fuchsia. “Prune this hummingbird favorite no more than a few weeks after flowering to encourage new branching,” Hayes says.
Lilac
One of the most beautiful and fragrant spring plants, lilacs should be pruned soon after the blooming season is over. “Remove any spent flowers and cut out dead stems at this time. Many lilacs grow large and gangly and benefit greatly from a good ‘haircut.’ You can cut them back by a third and do any needed shaping. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful blooms next season.”
Forsythia
One of the first signs of spring, this shrub can be completely covered in cheerful yellow flowers. “Trim it back after the blooms are gone by pruning branches back to a strong bud or lateral branch to maintain a natural, arching shape,” Hayes says. “But don’t attempt to form a hedge—that will reduce flower quantity.”
Deutzia
Part of the hydrangea family, this plant produces masses of tiny star- or bell-shaped flowers in white and soft shades of pink. “It’s a low-maintenance shrub that requires little pruning,” says Hayes. “You can do any shaping after the lovely cherry-blossom colored blooms have faded.”
Don’t Prune Yet: Hydrangeas
In July, hydrangeas are still going strong in most places and Hayes recommends leaving them alone until later in the summer, saying: “For most areas it is best to wait until August to September to cut back these beauties. But you can still pick some flowers for stunning bouquets.”
