How to Prune Shrubs

The two types of pruning cuts are heading and thinning. The type of cut you make will depend on the type of plant you have and how you want your shrub to look. A heading cut will help reduce the height of your shrub while stimulating bud growth. Thinning cuts, when done correctly, do not create new growth and should be used when you want to control the density of your shrub.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pruning sheers

1. Look for branches that are dead or diseased. This is where you should start when trimming back your shrubs.
2. Prune branches that are overlapping or rubbing against each other in a way that is detrimental to the branches or the shrub itself.
3. Position your sheers approximately ¼ inch from the bud for a heading cut. Cut downward on a slant, making sure not to make the cut too steep or too close to the bud.
4. Remove inward-facing buds if you are cutting above a node with more than a single bud.
5. Start at the branch's point of origin to make your cut when using a thinning cut.
6. Use a combination of both types of cuts to get the desired shape and growth pattern for your shrub.
7. Consider what kind of shrub you have and the time of year before starting to prune. Different shrubs need to be pruned at different times. Talk to a local plant expert to find out for sure what the best time is for pruning your particular shrub.

Tips & Warnings

• Be selective in the cuts you make while pruning rather than simply whacking away indiscriminately.
• Do not prune spring-blooming shrubs in the winter, since this will stunt their bloom production. Wait until after they have finished blooming for the season.

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