How and When to Prune Your Landscape Plants in Omaha
Pruning is one of the most important and often overlooked parts of keeping your landscape healthy, beautiful, and thriving. In Omaha, our changing seasons mean timing and technique are especially important. Whether you’re caring for flowering shrubs, shade trees, or ornamental grasses, knowing when and how to prune can make all the difference.
Why Pruning Matters
Pruning isn’t just about making plants look neat. Done correctly, it helps:
Promote healthy growth by removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
Encourage flowering and fruiting in the right season.
Improve air circulation to reduce the risk of pests and disease.
Shape plants for a more attractive, balanced appearance.
When to Prune in Omaha’s Climate
Late Winter to Early Spring (February–April)
This is the best time for most trees and many shrubs. Plants are still dormant, which means less stress and quicker healing once growth resumes.
Good candidates: Oak, maple, honeylocust, burning bush, boxwood, and spirea (before they leaf out).
Avoid: Spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, forsythia, and serviceberry—they bloom on old wood, so pruning now would remove this year’s flowers.
After Spring Flowering (May–June)
If you have spring-blooming shrubs, prune right after the flowers fade. This gives them time to set buds for next year.
Good candidates: Lilac, forsythia, viburnum, weigela.
Mid-to-Late Summer (July–August)
Light pruning and shaping can be done, but avoid heavy cuts—plants are focused on conserving energy for the cooler months.
Good candidates: Minor shaping of hedges, removal of suckers or water sprouts from trees.
Fall (September–November)
Avoid major pruning during fall. Cuts made now may not heal before freezing temperatures, which can leave plants vulnerable to damage. The exception is removing broken or diseased limbs for safety.
How to Prune the Right Way
Use Sharp, Clean Tools
Sharp pruners or loppers make clean cuts that heal faster. Disinfect tools between plants to prevent spreading disease.Follow the Three-Cut Method for Large Branches
This prevents bark tearing: make an undercut a few inches out from the trunk, then a top cut to remove the branch’s weight, and finally the final cut just outside the branch collar.Know the Plant’s Growth Habit
Removing too much at once can shock the plant. A good rule of thumb is to never remove more than one-third of the plant’s mass in a single season.Target the Right Parts
Remove:Dead, diseased, or crossing branches
Water sprouts and suckers
Branches growing inward toward the center of the plant
Shape, Don’t Shear (Unless It’s a Hedge)
Follow the plant’s natural form for the healthiest and most attractive results.
Omaha-Specific Tips
Watch the weather: Avoid pruning during extreme cold snaps or right before heavy rain, as fresh cuts are more vulnerable.
Mind local pests: In Omaha, avoid pruning oaks between April and mid-July to reduce the risk of oak wilt.
Consider hiring a pro: Larger trees or extensive pruning jobs are best handled by a certified arborist for safety and long-term plant health.
Pruning can seem simple, but the wrong cut at the wrong time can affect your plants for years. At Priority Landscape Construction, we know Omaha’s plants and climate, and we can help keep your landscape healthy, vibrant, and beautiful season after season.
Contact us today to schedule your pruning or seasonal maintenance service.