Don’t prune these now

It’s easy to get overzealous with the loppers, but pruning plants at the wrong time may remove this year’s flowers or cause other damage. Here are some plants to leave unpruned now:

SAMBUCUS If you prune elder now, you’ll cut off the flower stems before they have chance to bloom. Instead, prune when dormant in late winter.

PRUNUS SERRULA Wait until midsummer if you need to cut back Tibetan cherry, as pruning too early may cause bark dieback, especially on established trees.

CHIMONA THUS Wintersweet should only be given a light prune in late winter after flowering. Hard pruning can stop it flowering for several years.

Sambucus is about to flower, so delay pruning until winter