Flowering shrubs · pruning calendar
When to prune azaleas and rhododendrons
Prune azaleas and rhododendrons just after they flower in spring. Light thinning is fine at other times, but heavier cuts later in the year remove flower buds that form in midsummer.
Azalea & rhododendron pruning by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Prune now | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Prune now | June: Prune now | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Wait | April: Prune now | May: Prune now | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Light thinning only. If the shrub is badly overgrown, a hard renewal cut before spring growth works, but you give up this year’s flowers.
- Wait Light thinning only. Shaping or shearing now cuts off flower buds. Save bigger cuts for right after bloom.
- Prune now Flowering just ended. This is the best time to shape, before next year’s buds form in midsummer.
How to cut: Cut individual branches back to a side branch or leaf cluster, staggering the lengths. Avoid shearing into a ball.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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