The One Shrub You Should Be Pruning In The Winter To Boost Spring Growth

The garden tends to slow down in winter. There's a stillness, almost as if the plants are catching their breath. It's only natural to think of this season as a time to retreat indoors and let the garden sleep. But beneath the frost and the bare branches, life is waiting and plotting its next explosion of growth. The key to a lush spring is knowing which plants to give a little tough love while they're dormant. Pruning lets you give your shrubs the space and energy they need to thrive. Clearing away the old means making room for the new. And if there's one shrub that truly rewards this ritual, it's the silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea). Pruning it in late winter to early spring is the secret to a stunning early spring display.

Native to the wide-open prairies of North America, the silver buffaloberry is a hardy gem that thrives in zones 3 through 6. Its narrow leaves and thorny branches give it a resemblance to a miniature Russian olive. Further, its dense growth provides a perfect shelter for birds. Songbirds adore this berry-producing plant for its fruit, while small rodents love to nibble away at its branches. Its small, reddish-orange, one-seeded berries typically ripen from late May through summer. Occasionally a golden-hued berry surprises observant gardeners. With its generous offerings to wildlife, the silver buffaloberry is like a small ecosystem, ready to reward a little careful winter grooming.

For younger shrubs, pruning helps them develop a fuller shape. Old shrubs that have started to lose their vigor, on the other hand, respond better to light trimming, just enough to refresh their shape. To begin the process, grab a sharp bypass pruner. Don't even think about using a dull blade since it can damage stems instead of cutting them cleanly, which exposes them to diseases. Give it a quick rinse by dipping it in isopropyl alcohol for a couple of minutes. 

Now look closely and apply the three D rule to properly prune silver buffaloberry. It means paying attention to dead, damaged, or diseased branches that practically beg to be removed. You can spot them by signs of fungal growth or bark that's lost its natural color. A stem that feels unusually brittle or coarse is another common sign. Cut them back to healthy wood so the shrub will have enough energy to redirect growth. As you prune, leave the strong, well-angled branches and remove the weak ones. Make each cut smooth, angled away from the center so water doesn't linger and cause rot. And don't take more than 1/3 of the shrub at once. Silver buffaloberry appreciates moderation. If you spot any bigger branches, opt for a pruning saw. It'll let you avoid tearing the bark and keep your shrub looking sharp.