I would probably wait until the bush is done burning; you dont want to burn your hands or lose your brow!

 

ha! funny!!!

 

i am not 100% sure but i think u can cut any bush any time.

 

i am not 100% sure but i think u can cut any bush any time.

You can cut off your leg at any time too, that doesnt mean it is a good idea or that it will look good.

 

I agree with hoskm01 wait until early spring
If you chop them off and have a bitter winter it will not be a good result

What is the word........dessication, they have no choice but to dry out and be hurt. The humidity during the winter is what???? 30% on average, often less for long periods

 

oh yea i forgot those bushes loose there leaves. duhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

I guess I will just waint until early spring, I had imagined that it is too late now I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks

 

A burning bush is a great plant to dormant prune. When the tree is dormant, after the leaves drop, you can go ahead and get in there and do some structural pruning. Remove crossing branches, branches that grow toward the center of the shrub, and thin it out for better air circulation. You may want to trim back the shrub to control its size. The key to doing a nice job is to make it look like you weren't even there when you are done.

Burning bush will do ok if they are sheared every year with hedge clippers. They will look great, and more natural, if you do some structural pruning.

Good luck!

 

In this area, the rabbits can totally destroy burning bush over the winter. We usually wait until springtime so we can clean up their damage and shape the plants at the same time. One of the main reasons for planting burning bush is their fall color, so we absolutely leave them alone once the new growth has hardened off in the spring.

 

Personally I am with the crowd that is against invasive species but... burning bush (Euonymus alatus) should be pruned after it has bloomed in the late spring/ early summer (here they are done pruning by late June). I would make deep heavy cuts to thin (especially if it has not been pruned well in the last few years, this promotes undergrowth) and as jwholden said remove any crossing branches. Then you can go back and finish by shaping it with the hedge pruners. If this shrub is wildly out of control, cut it back to an inch or two above the ground in the spring and it will grow right back. It grows like wild fire (thats why it is on the invasive species list)!

I was always taught that besides the risk of winter burn (as a result of desiccation) there is an increased risk of fungal infection to plants pruned in late fall.

The best thing to do when dealing with this kind of question, because we are all from different parts of the country, it to look up the closest state cooperative extension service (usually through a college) and they should have some guidelines published. If there is nothing published usually you can get someone on the phone from the co-op to answer your question.

There is no shame in asking a question. We are but humble landscapers, the men and women at the co-op are usually doctors and professors.

Also if you are ever bored (like we get during the winter in the northeast) look up the invasive species list for your region. I know when I looked up mine I was very surprised at some of the species on there.

 

i just popped in to say hey from the ville and welcome to lawnsite

it's been raining for a month it seems