The weather during late winter can feel like being on a roller coaster. One day, it feels like spring, and the next, we are reminded that it’s still winter. To help tide you over, you can try forcing some spring-flowering trees and shrubs to bloom early and bring some bright spring colors indoors.

February and March are a great time to prune many trees and shrubs. While it’s typically recommended to prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs after they are done blooming to avoid removing blooms, they can still be pruned this time of year. Those pruned branches can be forced to bloom indoors.

Plants such as forsythia, redbud, dogwoods, hawthorn, lilacs, pussy willows, and viburnums are good candidates for forcing. Fruit trees such as apples and peaches can also be forced into blooming indoors. These, and other trees and shrubs that produce flowers in the spring, produce their flower buds in the summer, and after they have had enough cold weather, are ready to bloom.

When selecting branches to use, look for ones with a lot of flower buds. Flower buds tend to be larger, round, and plumper than leaf buds, which are often narrow and pointed. Start by cutting branches 6 to 18 inches long, making sure you are using proper pruning techniques. The best time to cut branches for forcing is when temperatures are above freezing. Keep in mind that any branches you choose to remove will affect the plant's floral display come spring.

Once the branches are cut, bring them inside and fully submerge them in water overnight. While the branches are submerged, recut the stems diagonally one inch from the base. After soaking, place the branches upright in a container. Add warm water and remove any buds that are under the water line. Place the container in a cool, 60 to 70 F, partially shaded location. Change the water every few days to prevent the buildup of bacteria.

Depending on the type of plant you are trying to get to bloom, it can take one to five weeks for the flowers to open. Once they bloom, the flowers typically last about a week. To prolong the life of blooms, keep them in a cool location and out of direct sunlight. Warmer temperatures and direct sunlight can decrease the quality of the blooms as well as reduce their lifespan.

If a branch you are trying to force doesn’t bloom after three or four weeks, don’t get discouraged. The branch may have been cut too early, so collect a few more to try again. The closer to a plant’s natural flowering period, the less time it takes to force the cut branches indoors.

Learn more about forcing branches on the Good Growing Blog. For more information about plant care, connect with your local Illinois Extension county office at go.illinois.edu/ExtensionOffice.

Ken Johnson is an Illinois Extension horticulture educator for Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties. Gardeners Corner is a quarterly newsletter from gardening experts around the state. Each issue highlights best practices that will make your houseplants, landscape, or garden shine in any season. Join the Gardener’s Corner email list at go.illinois.edu/GCsubscribe for direct access to timely tips.

PHOTO CAPTION: Plants such as forsythia, with its bright yellow blooms, as well as redbud, dogwoods, hawthorn, lilacs, pussy willows, and viburnums are good candidates for pruning branches and forcing them to bloom.