Top 9+ Plants You Should Never Prune In November

Don't risk winter damage that can kill your plants.

November is a good time to get your garden and flower beds ready for winter, and your checklist may already include things like harvesting the last of your fall crops, pulling plants that you don’t want to go to seed, mulching, enriching the soil, and overall tidying of the garden. After the growing and blooming season is over, your plants may look a little wild with dead foliage and long branches. It may be tempting to neaten the space, but don’t take the pruners out just yet. Fall isn’t a good time to prune many plants because the open cuts may not have time to heal before cold weather arrives and it can encourage new growth that's too tender to survive a hard frost. Don’t risk killing your plants for a neat trim. Here are some plants you shouldn’t prune in November and when you should cut them back instead.

Forsythia

Forsythia’s (Forsythia) bright yellow flowers are some of the earliest to appear when spring arrives. Protect newly forming buds by waiting until spring to prune this shrub, after its eye-catching display is done for the season. This is typically done in May or June, and new growth begins as early as July. Since buds bloom on old wood, cutting the branches after mid-summer risks cutting off next season’s show.

Hydrangeas

Different types of hydrangeas should be pruned at different times of the year, so it’s important to know your type before you begin pruning. Those that bloom on old wood have already formed their buds for next season by the time November rolls around. Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia), bigleaf (H. macrophylla), mountain (H. serrata), and climbing (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) hydrangeas all bloom on old wood and pruning these should be done in spring or summer after they bloom. Pruning later risks cutting off next year’s blooms. Since they bloom on new growth, smooth (H. arborescens) and panicle (H. paniculata) hydrangea types can be pruned in late winter before new growth emerges.

Camellia

Knowing when to prune camellias is based on when they bloom since different types bloom in different seasons. Common camellia (Camellia japonica) should be pruned after it blooms in spring or early summer, so cutting it back in later summer or into fall can jeopardize next year’s blooms. Sasanqua camellias (C. sasanqua) bloom in fall to early winter, so pruning these varieties may be done when the last flowers drop.

Coral Bell

While it’s fine to pinch off or snip the flower stalks once blooms fade, leave dead foliage on coral bells (Heuchera) over the winter to protect the plant’s crown from cold temperatures and damage from winter weather. In spring after the last frost, trim away any dead foliage to just above any new growth, being careful not to cut into the plant’s crown. 

Magnolia

Magnolia trees should be pruned in spring or summer, depending on the type you are growing. Deciduous magnolia trees shed their leaves each year and should be pruned in the summer once flowering is over. Evergreen magnolias, such as Southern magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora), should be pruned in late winter or early spring, after the last frost and before any new growth emerges. Cutting either type of magnolia tree’s branches in November risks attracting pests to the tree as it bleeds sap, as well as removing next year’s flower buds that have already started to form. 

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a type of small deciduous shrub or tree that features fragrant yellow flowers that bloom on old growth from fall to spring, depending on the type. Schedule pruning for springtime once blooming is over. This native plant doesn’t need much pruning other than to maintain its shape, remove dead or diseased branches, and thin it out as needed to improve circulation.

Chinese Fringe Flower

Known for its creamy white or vibrant pink flowers and richly colored foliage, Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) blooms sporadically throughout the year, with the heaviest show in late winter to early spring. Pruning in November means you’ll risk frost damage and cut off the flowers that have been developing for next season, so wait to give the plant a good pruning until after its spring blooming period.

Viburnum

Some varieties of viburnum (Viburnum) can grow to 20 feet tall, so there’s no doubt they’ll need some pruning to maintain their size. Avoid pruning in the fall because not only can it disrupt next year’s flowers that are already forming, but it can also encourage new growth that can be damaged or killed by a hard frost. Heavy pruning can be done in late winter or early spring if it’s done before new growth begins. Other pruning that’s needed for shaping should be done in late spring or early summer after the flowers begin to fade.

Lilac

While traditional lilacs struggle in Southern climates, some varieties can withstand the heat of warmer regions. ‘Miss Kim’ (Syringa pubescens subsp. Patula ‘Miss Kim’) can grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8. It blooms from spring to summer on old wood, so resist pruning in November or other fall months when the plant is dormant so its buds can develop for next season. The best time to prune lilacs is in the summer immediately after blooming has finished.