'Gardening With Angelo' Radio Show • June 16, 2025

Pruning Evergreens in Late Spring

Radio Show Recap

After recapping a week of beautiful temperatures, Angelo gave pruning tips for over 15 different plant families that can be trimmed now. He also offers advice for maintaining a healthy garden through a very wet spring, preventing blossom end rot, and fertilizing perennials. PLUS, he answers caller questions like, “How do you prevent my needle cast on Spruces,” “What should I use to prevent mildew on my roses,” and “When is the best time to reshape my holly shrub?”

Angelo Recommends | Late Spring Pruning

  • Taxus (Yew) | Do any hard pruning in early spring. Can prune up through mid-July.
  • Boxwood | Light trimming to shape new growth
  • Mugo Pine | Cut the candles by half
  • Junipers | Prune to shape now
  • White Pines | Cut new growth back by half
  • Alberta Spruce | Prune now. Watch out for spider mites—use Bioadvanced Insect Disease & Mite or Neem Oil for mite issues
  • Arborvitaes | Can trim about 2-3″ of growth now to shape
  • Norway Spruce | They’re not done growing yet. Prune before the end of July by cutting the candles in half
  • Hemlocks | Trim lightly now
  • Lilacs | Can be cut up to half way now. Must be pruned before the end of the month to preserve next year’s blooms.
  • Variegated Dogwood | Can be cut up to half way now.
  • Purple Plum | Hard pruning/shaping can be done now
  • Azaleas | Can be cut up to half way now. Must be pruned before the end of the month to preserve next year’s blooms.
  • Hollies | Can be cut up to half way now. Must be pruned before the end of the month to preserve next year’s blooms.