June offers a quiet break between spring’s burst of growth and the heat of summer. It is the right time to help certain plants recover, reshape, or redirect their energy.
By pruning wisely, you can promote better blooms, improve airflow, and prevent overgrowth before the hottest part of the year arrives.
Not every plant needs a trim in June, but several benefit greatly from a light cut or shaping.
Here are five specific types of plants that respond well to pruning this month.
Forsythia
Forsythia is one of the first plants to bloom in spring, bursting with vivid yellow flowers that often appear before the leaves.
The bright show does not last long, and once the flowers fade, the shrub quickly becomes a tangled mass of green growth.
By June, the blooms are gone and the branches are stretching in every direction, making this the best time to prune.
This timing gives the plant room to grow new shoots and form next year’s flower buds without interruption.
Older canes near the base of the shrub tend to thicken, lose their strength, and bloom less each year. Cutting them down helps redirect energy into newer stems that are more productive.
You can remove up to one-third of the oldest branches without harming the plant. Choose stems that look woody, gray, or overly thick, and snip them all the way to the ground.
Branches that cross or rub should also be removed. These can block airflow and create weak points where disease can set in.
If the forsythia is too tall or spreading too wide, shorten the outer branches just above a leaf pair that faces outward.
This keeps new growth moving away from the center, which helps maintain a more open shape.
Avoid rounding the shrub too tightly, as forsythia has a natural arching habit that looks best when it’s allowed to stay soft and loose.
Prune by mid-summer at the latest. Waiting too long risks cutting into wood that would have produced flowers next spring.
A clean trim in June sets up healthy growth, better shape, and a fuller bloom when the next season rolls around.
Catmint
Catmint is a soft, fragrant perennial that spreads in gentle mounds and fills the edges of garden beds with purple-blue blooms.
It begins flowering in late spring and keeps going for weeks, but by June, the first flush of color often starts to fade.
The plant can become floppy, untidy, or overgrown if it is not trimmed at the right time. June is the perfect window for giving it a simple reset.
Cutting back catmint after its first round of blooms encourages fresh growth and a second wave of flowers that can last into late summer.
Use clean shears and trim the whole plant by about one-third. You do not need to be exact, but it helps to keep the shape rounded and low.
Remove any dry flower stalks, damaged tips, or uneven patches as you go. These steps keep the plant neat and help new shoots rise without delay.
Catmint responds quickly to pruning, often showing new growth within a few days. The more consistently it is shaped, the less likely it is to collapse outward or smother nearby plants.
If the plant is spreading over pathways or edging into other areas, trimming also helps define its boundaries and preserve space.
This mid-season cut makes the plant look fresh again, but it also supports a stronger root system and more balanced growth overall.
Even in full sun and dry soil, catmint stays healthy with a light pruning and an occasional deep watering.
By keeping it trimmed in June, you help the plant stay tidy, extend the bloom period, and encourage a healthier, longer-lasting display.
Knock Out Roses
Knock Out roses are known for being low-maintenance and dependable, blooming over and over again from spring until frost.
Their steady flowering and resistance to disease make them a popular choice for gardeners who want beauty without too much effort.
But even these hardy roses benefit from a smart mid-season trim. June is a perfect time to step in and help them reset after their first major bloom.
Cutting back Knock Out roses in early summer encourages a second, stronger flush of flowers. It also helps improve airflow, reduce disease, and keep the shape full but balanced.
Begin by removing any spent flowers and the small stems that held them. Snip just above a set of five healthy leaves, which is where new blooms are most likely to form.
If any branches look thin, weak, or out of place, take them out completely. These can steal energy from the more productive parts of the plant and make it look uneven.
Look at the overall size and shape. If the rose has grown too large or leggy, trim it back by about one-third. Focus on shaping it into a rounded form that allows sunlight and air to reach all sides.
Dead or damaged branches should always be removed first. This clears the way for healthy growth and keeps the plant strong during summer heat.
Wear gloves while pruning, even though Knock Out roses have fewer thorns than other varieties. The stems can still scratch, especially when they get woody.
Avoid cutting below the green part of the stem. Deep cuts into old wood may not produce new growth and can leave gaps in the plant.
After pruning, water well and consider adding a layer of mulch to protect the roots and retain moisture.
With regular shaping in June, Knock Out roses stay vibrant, healthy, and covered in blooms well into fall.
Oregano
Oregano is a fast-growing herb with fragrant leaves and a bold flavor that holds up well in cooking.
In the garden, it spreads easily and sends out long, leafy stems that can quickly become woody or overgrown if left untrimmed.
Pruning in June keeps the plant productive and helps preserve its best flavor.
If your oregano has already been harvested once or is beginning to flower, now is the time to cut it back. This encourages the plant to grow new, tender leaves and prevents it from putting energy into seed production.
Use sharp, clean scissors or garden shears to trim the plant by about one-third. Focus on cutting above a pair of healthy leaves, where new growth will branch out quickly.
Take off any flowers that have already formed. These signal the plant to slow down leaf production, which weakens the flavor and reduces the harvest.
Cutting back stems regularly keeps oregano full and bushy. It also prevents it from becoming leggy or sprawling across nearby plants.
If the center of the plant looks bare or woody, trim a few older stems closer to the base. This helps light reach the middle and encourages fresh shoots from below.
Group your pruning around sunny days if possible. Wet or humid weather can slow healing and make the plant more vulnerable to mildew.
Oregano responds quickly to cutting, especially when the soil stays warm and slightly dry. You may see fresh new leaves within a week.
Regular pruning also helps you gather a larger, tastier harvest. The youngest leaves have the best flavor and are easier to dry or use fresh in the kitchen.
When shaped and maintained in early summer, oregano gives you a steady supply of flavorful growth and stays compact and healthy throughout the season.
Tomato Plants
Tomatoes grow fast once summer heat sets in, pushing out leafy stems, blossoms, and fruit all at once.
While the goal is to grow strong, healthy fruit, the plant often produces more greenery than it really needs. June is a key time to take control of that growth.
Left alone, tomato plants can become wild and crowded. They may block their own sunlight or trap moisture that leads to disease.
Pruning helps the plant stay open, manageable, and more productive in the long run.
Start by removing the suckers. These are the small shoots that grow in the space between a main stem and a side branch.
They pull energy away from the rest of the plant and make it harder for sunlight and airflow to reach the center.
Use your fingers or small scissors to pinch or cut them when they are still young. It is easier to remove them early before they thicken and create tangled growth.
Focus on the lower part of the plant as well. Any leaves that are touching the soil or starting to yellow should be removed.
These leaves are more likely to spread disease and serve little purpose once the plant gets taller.
If your tomato plant is growing in a single-stem style, continue guiding it upward by removing extra stems along the way. If you are using a cage or letting it sprawl, thinning is still useful to manage airflow and shape.
Avoid removing too many leaves at once. The plant needs enough coverage to protect its fruit from sunscald and heat.
Tomatoes do best when their energy is focused. Less foliage means more nutrients go into making flavorful, healthy fruit.
Pruning in June gives you better control and better results. With just a few small snips each week, your tomato plant will grow stronger, stay healthier, and give you a better harvest when it matters most.
Final Thoughts
June is the right time to step in and guide the growth you started in spring. A few careful cuts can open space, improve airflow, and help plants use their energy wisely.
Not every plant needs pruning now, but the ones that do will respond with stronger blooms or better harvests.
This small effort makes your garden healthier and more manageable through the heat of summer.
Pruning is not about perfection. It is about giving each plant the best chance to thrive.