Is it ok to trim trees/bushes now (gardening, move)

[VRE332]

now that I am furloughed I can do some yardwork. Can we trim trees now?

[ICS67]

It's generally recommended to remove remove dead, dying, or diseased branches as soon as possible any time of the year. Spring is supposed to be a generally good time for selective pruning, since plants will recover fast and the pruning will stimulate new growth. (Heavy pruning should be avoided in summer, when it can stress plants). According to the gardening tips sent out by Meadow Farms, however, azaleas and rhododendrons should be pruned only after they've bloomed.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by ICS67

It's generally recommended to remove remove dead, dying, or diseased branches as soon as possible any time of the year. Spring is supposed to be a generally good time for selective pruning, since plants will recover fast and the pruning will stimulate new growth. (Heavy pruning should be avoided in summer, when it can stress plants). According to the gardening tips sent out by Meadow Farms, however, azaleas and rhododendrons should be pruned only after they've bloomed.

Just to add to the above, I believe that the reason for the advice re: azaleas and rhododendrons is so that you won't miss seeing the blooms on the branches that you remove this year, since the buds have already begun growing. Since the plants are still mostly dormant, it doesn't harm the plants to prune them now. It's simply a matter of whether you want to see all the blooms you could see.

The same would be true for cherry trees.

[CAVA1990]

A good rule of thumb is to prune roses and fruit trees when the Forsythia starts to bloom.