Pruning Plants in Southern California: When, Why, and How to Do It Right

Proper pruning is one of the most important and most of the time done wrong parts of maintaining a healthy, beautiful landscape in Southern California. With our mild winters, long growing seasons, and drought-conscious plant palettes, pruning is less about cutting everything back and more about timing, plant knowledge, and long-term design intent.

When done correctly, pruning encourages healthier growth, improves flowering and fruit production, reduces water use, and keeps plants looking intentional rather than overgrown.

This blog post is a guide on when and how to do your plant pruning, including kangaroo paws, succulents, fruit and avocado trees, lavender, and native flowering plants.

Let’s first talk about why pruning matters so much

From a design-build perspective, pruning is not just maintenance, it is an important design process to keep your plants looking nicely. Here are your 5 big WHYs for pruning:

• Preserves plant shape and scale

• Prevents overcrowding and competition

• Improves air circulation and disease resistance

• Encourages blooms, structure, and longevity

• Reduces unnecessary water and stress

A well-pruned garden looks designed, not neglected.

Now let’s go into the best time of your pruning process (even in our mild winter climate):

• Late winter to early spring (January–March): Structural pruning before new growth

• After flowering: For bloom-heavy plants

• Late summer to early fall: Light cleanup only (avoid heavy pruning)

• Avoid heavy pruning during extreme heat or frost risk

How to prune specific plants:

Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos)

Best time: Late winter to early spring, and after flowering
How to prune:

• Cut spent flower stalks all the way down to the base

• Remove brown, damaged, or diseased leaves

• Avoid cutting healthy green foliage too low

Regular pruning keeps kangaroo paws upright, vibrant, and prevents fungal issues, especially important in coastal and irrigated landscapes.

Succulents

Best time: Spring and early summer
How to prune:

• Remove leggy or stretched growth to maintain form

• Trim damaged or sunburned leaves

• Replant healthy cuttings for propagation

Minimal pruning keeps succulents sculptural and clean, which is key in modern and drought-tolerant landscape designs.

Fruit Trees & Avocado Trees

Best time: Late winter to early spring (before active growth)
How to prune:

• Remove dead, crossing, or inward-growing branches

• Thin the canopy to improve air flow and light

• For avocados, avoid over-pruning, light shaping is best

Proper pruning improves fruit production while keeping trees at a manageable size for residential landscapes.

Lavender

Best time: After flowering, with a heavier prune in late spring or early summer
How to prune:

• Cut back about one-third of the plant

• Never cut into woody growth

• Shape into a rounded mound

Pruning lavender prevents it from becoming woody and leggy, extending its life and keeping it visually tidy in low-maintenance designs.

Native Flowering Plants (California Natives)

Best time: After flowering or in late winter
How to prune:

• Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming

• Lightly shape, don’t shear

• Avoid heavy pruning

Examples:

• California fuchsia

• Penstemon

• Cleveland sage

• Yarrow

Native plants thrive with less intervention, prune lightly and let their natural form guide the design.

Pruning Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-pruning or “shearing” plants into unnatural shapes

• Pruning during extreme heat

• Cutting into woody growth on plants like lavender

• Treating all plants the same

Each plant has a purpose and personality, your pruning should respect both.

A green thumb isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention. Every plant has its own needs and personality, and when you listen, anyone can become a successful gardener.