Plants to prune in December – 5 trees, shrubs and fruits that need trimming before next spring

It's a quieter month for gardeners, but believe it or not, there are still plenty of plants to prune in December ahead of spring.

Besides learning how to protect plants from frost, pruning is one of the most important jobs to do in the garden in December. But first, you'll need to work out what you can and can't prune this month.

'Winter might seem like the garden’s downtime, but it’s actually the perfect season to roll up your sleeves and get a head start on tree pruning and shrub maintenance,' says Steve Swanborough, gardening expert at Henchman. 'Winter pruning is an essential task that ensures your plants stay healthy and flourish when spring arrives.'

We've rounded up five plants to prune in December to help you organise your winter gardening schedule.

Steve Swanborough

Steve Swanborough is Henchman’s resident gardening expert, working closely with the team at shows such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Having previously worked as a private gardener in South London, Steve brings years of horticultural experience to Henchman, and his favourite part of the job is helping customers with any hedge-related problems they might face. Steve is passionate about sustainable gardening practices, and everything in his own garden is upcycled!

Plants to prune in December

Pruning certain plants in December will keep them in tip-top shape for fruiting and flowering next season.

'December is a great time to prune plants that have lost their leaves and entered dormancy, meaning they aren't actively growing,' says Morris Hankinson, founder of Hopes Grove Nurseries. 'Pruning reduces stress on the plants and clears away weak or overcrowded growth, allowing it to produce stronger new shoots in spring.'

Here are five popular plants to prune in December.

What you'll need

1. Deciduous ornamental trees

We're kicking off our list of plants to prune in December with deciduous ornamental trees, because they're currently in their dormant phase.

So, if you've been wondering when to prune acers and other deciduous trees in your garden, now is the perfect time to take out the secateurs.

Pruning these trees in December has a number of benefits, and they're all to do with their winter dormancy.

'This reduces stress on the trees and allows them to focus on recovery and new growth in the spring,' explains Steve from Henchman.

'From November to March, begin by removing smaller branches to create clean, bare stems. This helps improve the tree's shape and makes maintenance tasks easier. Be careful to thin out the branches rather than cut back the entire canopy, which helps maintain a natural, balanced look.'

You should also address the 'three Ds' – dead, diseased and damaged branches – which might otherwise harbour pests and diseases.

2. Apple and pear trees

Wondering when to prune apple trees and pear trees? Well, December is the perfect time to learn how to prune fruit trees for a better harvest next year.

'Apple and pear trees can be pruned in December to remove dead branches and encourage healthy growth,' says Morris.

Make sure you aren't pruning any stone fruit trees in the winter, though, or you could risk damaging their health and even leave them vulnerable to silver leaf disease.

3. Climbing roses

There’s nothing quite like the beautiful colours and fragrant smell of roses in the garden, but knowing when to prune climbing roses will ensure they flourish year after year.

You should prune climbing roses as soon as the flowers have faded and the rose is no longer in leaf. For some, that could be as late as February, but for many, this should be sometime in December – so it's the perfect time to learn how to prune climbing roses.

'Prune climbing roses now, cutting away damaged growth and reducing old shoots by two-thirds to prepare them for a fresh burst of blooms in spring,' says gardening expert and author Sarah Raven.

4. Grape vines

Perfect for south-facing gardens, grape vines thrive in sunny areas of the UK – and while they are fairly vulnerable to frosts and cold temperatures, they still require some pruning during the winter months.

In fact, it’s imperative that this is done while the plant is in its dormant period.

That’s because grape vines essentially ‘bleed’ sap when they are pruned, which makes the plant extremely weak. Making these cuts out of dormancy could result in disease, but making these cuts during its dormant period will help avoid that.

5. Callicarpa

Also known as the beauty berry, callicarpa is a unique plant that can make an intriguing and unusual addition to an autumn garden. It offers small clusters of purple berries as well as dark leafy greens, but if you have one of these medium-sized shrubs, you should know when to prune it.

The best time to prune callicarpa? Well, you should always prune this plant before it starts to flower, which means that you actually have a fairly large window to prune it. Any time between December and early spring works for this low-maintenance plant, so you can add it to your list of plants to prune in December.

Thankfully, callicarpa only requires some light pruning. You just want to focus on removing any dead or diseased branches and then cutting them back to a shape and size that suits the rest of your garden. And, as ever, make sure you know how to clean garden tools and learn how to sharpen secateurs to ensure you're making clean, precise cuts.

FAQs

When should you not prune?

Although there are many plants you can prune in December, you should avoid pruning in particularly harsh winter weather.

'Don't prune during frosty weather,' warns Morris from Hopes Grove Nurseries. 'Pruning during freezing conditions can damage exposed tissues.'

When should you cut back perennials?

Generally, the window for cutting back perennials spans from late autumn to early spring, but it all depends on the type of plant.

'Cut back most herbaceous perennials like peonies and asters after they have died back in late autumn or early winter,' advises Morris.

For perennials with seedheads and ornamental grasses, the rules are slightly different. 'You can leave them through winter (especially for wildlife!) and then cut them back in late winter or early spring before new growth begins,' says Morris.

Which plants will you be pruning this month? Whichever you choose, make sure you wrap up warm and avoid those frostier days!