Generally speaking, a good time for pruning shrubs is when they start to look untidy.

Thinning Shrubs In this shrub trimming technique, branches are selectively removed at the base to open up the crown, maximize light penetration and prevent the shrub from growing too large for its surroundings.

This type of shrub pruning is also performed to emphasize the larger stems and trunks if you are training your shrub to look like a small tree.

Shaping Shrubs We cut back or “head” branches to a point where they meet another branch or bud, keeping the cut at a 45-degree angle.

If you desire a formal look, we trim back the new shoots by half in early summer to stimulate branching at the base. Then, in the fall, we trim all new growth back by half again and begin shaping the shrubbery by tapering the sides and making the top flat or rounded.

It can be tempting to try to DIY your punning, but it’s very easy to overdo it, resulting in a loss of flowers and fruit formation. Experts prune only when there is a definite reason. By thinning out the oldest branches, heading back tall, leggy stems and cleaning up unproductive or dead wood, most shrubs can be maintained at the proper height and spread for many years.