14 Plants You Should Prune in March for More Flowers

06.03.2024 - 12:47 / balconygardenweb.com / Ralph Astley

March is that time of the year which marks the fresh growth in many plants – pruning around this time places a vital role for the coming burst of Spring and Summer, preparing the specimens to bloom properly!

1. If it blooms on old stems, which is the previous year’s growth, be cautious and only remove dead and damaged branches and do some light trimming.

2. For the plants that bloom on new growth, such as the butterfly bush, you can prune more aggressively, but it should never be more than one-third of the entire growth of the plant at one time.

3. There are plants that bloom in both new and old woods, for example, certain types of roses, hydrangeas, and azaleas – if you’re dealing with them, only remove dead and weak growth and keep some of the old stems growing.

Botanical Name: Chaenomeles speciosa

Because flowering quince blooms on old wood that develops in last year’s summer or fall, it’s best to prune it once the plant has flowered, which happens around the end of March or April so that it can get ready for next year’s flowering.

Botanical Name: Caryopteris

This shrub blooms on new growth, and late winter or early spring is the perfect time to prune to maximize its flowering potential for summer and fall. Simply look for the last year’s growth and trim all old woody stems back to only 8 to 12 inches from the ground.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla

In March, trimming hydrangeas could be beneficial. However, it’s crucial to identify its type as some bloom on old stems and some on new, and there are varieties that form blossoms on both, so be careful while snipping them off and keep some of the old wood intact.

Botanical Name: Buddleja davidii

For encouraging bushiness and vibrant flowers, trimming butterfly bushes down to