How to Prune Shrubs

When you prune a shrub mostly depends on when it blooms. Here are the basic rules of pruning woody plants.

Filed under: Pruning, Gardening, Maintenance

Trim Plants Lightly

Shrubs, such as California lilac, should be pruned lightly after flowering since they may not grow new wood if cut back too hard. Maintain a compact, flower-filled shrub by pruning long, straggly branches by 10–12 inches, but leave some of the shorter stems unpruned to help the plant maintain its strength. Cut above a leaf bud to prevent die-back and stimulate new growth below the cut.