Pruning isn’t just about keeping your landscape tidy—it’s one of the most important ways to promote plant health, shape growth, and enhance blooms. But timing is everything. At Terracare, we’ve worked with thousands of homeowners across Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Allendale, and beyond, and we’ve seen firsthand what happens when pruning is done too early, too late, or not at all.

To help you make better decisions for your landscape, we’ve created a month-by-month pruning guide tailored specifically for Bergen County’s climate and plant life.

January–February: Planning and Dormant Pruning

This is the best time for dormant pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs. With no leaves on the branches, we can clearly see the structure and make smart cuts to remove crossing, dead, or diseased limbs. Fruit trees, shade trees, and summer-flowering shrubs benefit from pruning now. It’s also when we begin prepping for spring yard cleanups in Ridgewood and Mahwah.

March: Final Dormant Cuts and Early Perennials

As temperatures begin to rise, we wrap up dormant pruning and turn our focus to cutting back ornamental grasses and early perennials. It’s a great time to assess tree planting needs and plan for new additions.

April: Spring Flowering Shrubs (Don’t Prune Yet!)

Here’s where timing matters. If a shrub blooms in spring—like forsythia or lilac—don’t prune it in April. Those flower buds were set last year. We hold off until after they bloom to avoid cutting off what you’re waiting to enjoy.

Meanwhile, we’re actively managing weekly lawn mowing and lawn maintenance to set up healthy turf for the season.

May: Prune Spring Bloomers After Flowering

Once the blooms are spent, we prune spring-flowering shrubs to shape them and promote next year’s growth. We also start thinning early perennials like daylilies and phlox.

May is one of our busiest months for full-service landscaping, including mulch installation and lawn fertilization.

June–July: Deadheading and Light Shaping

Summer is all about maintenance. We deadhead spent blooms, lightly prune overgrown shrubs, and focus on hedges. Heavy pruning is avoided now, especially during heatwaves. Our lawn care and weekly lawn service also keep turf healthy through the peak growing season.

August: Monitor, Don’t Overdo

This is a rest period. Pruning too aggressively in August can trigger new growth that won’t survive winter. We keep things clean and trimmed but avoid major cuts.

September–October: Fall Cleanups Begin

Fall is the ideal time for yard cleanups and cutting back spent perennials. We shape evergreens lightly and remove any deadwood. For deciduous trees, we wait until they go dormant before pruning.

We’re also managing fall cleanups and preparing landscapes for winter.

November–December: Light Touch, Winter Prep

This is the time for structural pruning of trees and removing broken or storm-damaged branches. We don’t prune flowering shrubs or evergreens too heavily now—they need energy to survive the cold.

Keep Your Landscape on Schedule with Terracare

Effective pruning keeps your landscape strong, healthy, and beautiful year-round—but only if it’s timed correctly. At Terracare Landscaping, we build seasonal care schedules tailored to each property, whether you’re in need of residential lawn care, affordable landscaping, or lawn service.

Let us handle the timing and technique—so your plants can thrive in every season. Get in touch to schedule your seasonal consultation and get on the right pruning schedule today.