June Pruning Checklist

Posted on June 17, 2026

It’s time for June pruning! Spring flowering plants should generally be pruned immediately after flowering, using July 4th as your cut-off date. It’s also a great time to pinch back fall perennials for bushier growth and improved blooming!

Spring Flowering Shrubs

Make sure to prune the following after they flower and before July 4th:  

  • Lilac
  • Azalea
  • Rhododendron
  • Weigela
  • Forsythia
  • Deutzia
  • Spring Flowering Viburnums
  • Mock Orange
  • Smokebush
  • Serviceberry
  • Fothergilla
  • Privet
  • Spirea (early bloomers)
  • Pieris

Perennials to Pinch Back

Remove the tips of new growth on each stem with your thumb and forefinger to encourage bushier growth and many more blooms. For larger areas, use sharp shears to cleanly remove the top 2-4″ of the plants. Be sure to do this for your:

  • Montauk Daisies
  • Sedum
  • Asters
  • Perennial Mums
  • Chelone

Pruning Tips

  • Be sure to use the correct tool for each pruning project. Hand pruners are great for smaller stems and twigs. Larger stems or branches may require loppers or a small pruning saw.
  • Always angle your cuts no more than 45 degrees.
  • Be sure to clean your pruning tools after each project. This practice will keep your tools in the best working order as well as prevent any diseases from spreading to other plants.
  • As a general rule, it’s always a good idea to prune out any dead, dying, or diseased branches anytime you see them.