Winter often inspires Arkansas homeowners to tidy up their landscapes, and for many plants, that instinct is right on time. According to the White County Cooperative Extension Service, dormant-season pruning—typically January through February—helps improve plant structure, reduce disease, and encourage healthy spring growth.
What to prune now includes shade trees like oak, maple, and elm; fruit trees such as apple, pear, and peach; crape myrtles (remove dead, damaged, or crossing limbs—avoid heavy topping); and roses, which benefit from late-winter pruning to improve airflow.
However, what not to prune yet matters just as much. Plants that set flower buds in late summer or fall—such as azaleas, forsythia, spring-flowering spirea, and hydrangeas that bloom on old wood—should be pruned after they flower to avoid losing spring blooms.
With winter weather still ahead, avoid heavy pruning just before a hard freeze, as fresh cuts can increase cold injury. If cold damage occurs, wait until spring growth begins before removing affected limbs.
Homeowners unsure about timing or technique are encouraged to contact the White County Cooperative Extension Service for research-based, local guidance. A little patience now pays off with healthier plants and better blooms ahead.
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