Pruning and trimming trees and shrubs?

[CANOPY SAM]

Hadn't seen this topic brought up yet this spring so I thought now might be a good time.

Much of our snow up north has now melted (not all ) and nothing has really started to grow yet. Is now a good time to go out and trim and prune all my fruit trees, shrubs, etc.? I've got a lot to do, and I know I gotta jump on this before everything really starts to grow in the next few weeks.

[kingr]

I'm hoping to get some time this weekend to trim the bushes

[pushbutton]

Prune away buddy! When "most" plants are still dormant is an excellent time. Be careful with thing like lilacs and grapes because they bloom on old wood. Friut trees like pears and apples can also be a little trickier.......instead of just an all around hair cut, it is best to go in and thin out bigger sections as lightly pruning will promote too much vegetative growth and limit flower production. Evergreens for sure should not be pruned right now; wait till they are putting on new growth in Junish.

[Dotch]

Apples and pears I'd leave alone too at this point. An open wound now will leave them more prone to things like fire blight. Best to get apples, pears, plums, etc., done in the winter/early spring months when it's frozen and those wounds are dry when we run into warmer, wet spring weather.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1235-4.html