'Now that the snow is going, can I go ahead and prune my yard plants?"

The winter weather has been especially difficult on plants. They will all appreciate some tender loving care. Do not be in a hurry to begin pruning. It will be 21 days until the vernal equinox. There is a high likelihood that stormy, cold weather still lies ahead. Every pruning cut is an open wound that increases the plant's potential for fungal spores entering into the wound. In addition, the cut surface has reduced cold hardiness.

Most pruning can wait until leaf buds visually swell and emerging leaf growth indicates that leaf and even flower buds have survived the winter. Because of the exceedingly low temperatures and the prolonged duration of the cold, we may see more winter damage than usual on some of your plants that are of borderline hardiness. You may well ask, Are there any plants that can be pruned now?

Yes. As long as the temperature is above 20 degrees and climbing, grapevines can be pruned to reduce the overly long canes and to stimulate new shoot development. The pruning cut will "bleed" (weep fluids from every cut surface). The loss of sap from the bleeding of the cuts does little harm to the plant. There is a minor loss of sugars from the cuts. However, there is nothing that can be done to control the flow. Grapevines are deeply rooted, and the majority of their roots have been in unfrozen soil and thus active all winter.

Normally, apple trees have been pruned by now, as have the blueberry bushes. Yet, unless you have an orchard to deal with, their pruning can wait until the weather is more settled.

Sometimes we can do more harm than good by acting too fast.