What time of year is best to prune back shrubs in New England, e.g. rhododendrons?

Is it OK to trim them back in the winter, even though they show buds on them already?

What time of year is best to prune back shrubs in New England, e.g. rhododendrons?
Most rhododendrons set their buds in the fall for blooming in the spring. If you trim them back now, they will not set new buds until the following fall, so you won't get spring flowering on the trimmed back branches. The only real reason to prune rhododendrons is to shape them and that is best done after flowering. Keep in mind that they will likely stop growing where pruned. It won't encourage bushiness or "revitalize them" in the way that pruning helps some shrubs (like forsythias). Shrubs that bloom in the summer usually set buds in the spring. They can be pruned now or in very early spring (they will usually bloom on "new growth") so pruning won't interfere with flowering.
Reply:All I know about trimming back Rhodies is that in Washington state it is recommended to be done right after they bloom if at all. If you cut them back later you may not harm them, but just miss a year's flowering. I suggest you find a good book at your library about pruning in your climate. Different types of plants are pruned at different times of the year.
Reply:If you have to prune Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and like plants, do it after they have bloomed as the next flowers will appear on the new growth of last year. My rhododendrons started bud formation in the late summer for blooms next year and theya re all loaded with buds, so pruning them now would be ridiculous.





However, if they break, or if they just have to be pruned, you can do that now with the knowledge that you will limit the amount of blooms for next year. They will grow back with a vengance.
Reply:trim in Nov or in the winter
Reply:Yep, Sap should be down in them now
Reply:It's not advisable to prune rhodenderons.

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