February is probably the best month to prune all around the garden, especially on dormant evergreen plants like these shrubs.
Pruning helps maintain the desired shape and size of your plants. Pruning also creates new growth, rejuvenates plants, and removes diseased and dead wood.
Bush roses, whether hybrid teas, floribundas, or grandifloras, need to be pruned back by at least 50 percent. Start by removing all weak, nonproductive canes. Prune the remaining strong canes back by half. Cut at a 45-degree angle just above an outward facing bud so the wound won't catch water. Be sure to throw away all the pruned material.
Now is also the time to prune crape myrtles. First, remove the seed heads and dead stems. Prune congested internal limbs and unwanted basal sprouts to keep your crape myrtle tree-formed. Do not top your crape myrtle.
Shrubs like these elaeagnus need to be pruned to remove the long fishing pole-like shoots.
Plants such as hollies can be pruned or shaped as desired, as can wax myrtles. Plants can look formal or natural. It's your choice.
Prune monkey grass or liriope before growth resumes in the spring.
Do not prune azaleas or other spring-flowering shrubs until they're finished blooming.
It may seem like a lot of work, but your trees and shrubs will look better than ever. I'm Norman Winter for Southern Gardening.