Prune now

Currant bushes

Redcurrants, whitecurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries can be pruned now.

Ornamental trees

Many ornamental trees can also be reshaped now, (but do not remove any large branches on birch, maple or walnut. Their sap will start rising soon, and after heavy pruning they may continue to bleed, preventing the wounds from healing). Hold off from drastic pruning until the autumn.

Climbing fruit

Grapes and kiwi fruit should be pruned before the end of January in order to avoid heavy bleeding. 

Fruit trees

Preferably wait until February before pruning fruit trees. Otherwise there is a risk of pests and diseases.
Wait until May before pruning trees with stoned fruits such as cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches and apricots.

Remove running shoots

Remove running shoots from around the trunks of some fruit trees. Find the point of attachment in the soil and twist off the shoots. Do not cut them: this will just result in more shoots.

Tidy up fruit trees

Remove dried-up fruit that are still hanging in fruit trees: they are real sources of infection. They can contain fungus spores which can give problems later.