For spring-blooming plants, we should avoid pruning until we re sure there has been damage. Some plants may simply have a few burned leaves, which will begin to fall. If we prune too soon, we may cut off potential flowers. Frost protection is critical when the plants begin emerging in the spring. Azaleas, fruit trees and strawberries all are more sensitive to cold as their buds open.
Fruit trees are harder to protect, but small plants can be covered.
If we have crape myrtles, altheas, buddleias, summer-blooming spireas or other plants that flower during the summer on current season s growth, and they need pruning, we should do so soon. Normally, we prune them in late February. However, we can still prune some, but we must do it soon. The later we prune, the later all these plants will bloom. Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are best, too, because they give us a longer season of coverage and don t leach from the soil as quickly.