When To Prune

[kloofnek]

I read the gardening section in the newspaper the other day and it says in January to prune dicideous bushes etc. now.
I thought one had to wait until Spring ,otherwise frost might get at the newly cut branches and cause damage.
Can anyone advise me ...please?

[rowanwitch]

my rule was always prune after stuff finishes flowering except for buddliea which I attack in early march

[mazie]

Hi kloofnek. This is a good article...

http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/prunedecid.html

[kloofnek]

Thank you for replies...looked at the factsheet,Mazie, useful.Mine are flowering bushes,so according to it...early Spring..so not yet.
I do have a "Red Robin" bush...non-flowering..but will do that at the same time.
One of my flowering bushes is a St John`s Wort which flowers twice a year,the last being in October.
However,the way the weather is now...so mild..plants may think it is later in the year than it actually is.
Went out in the garden before ...the birds were all sing like mad!!!!

[SlackAlice]

Photinia 'Red Robin' is not a deciduous bush and does flower, although the blooms are insignificant.

I'd personally recommend you not prune it until about June/July otherwise you might miss the early and colourful display of new leaves. Only prune it to keep it under control and shape it.

[kloofnek]

Slack...my Red Robin has never flowered...what are they like???