How to Trim Dwarf Burning Bush Shrub

Trim a dwarf burning bush.

The burning bush shrub (Euonymus alata Compactus) is also called the winged euonymus or spindle tree. It closely resembles a Eucalyptus plant, but the leaves turn a dark orange or red color in the fall. The dwarf variety of the burning bush usually reaches a height of only 2 feet, but on occasion may grow much larger. Burning bush shrubs require very little care, but occasional pruning will keep the shrub an attractive shape.

Things You'll Need

• Hand pruners
• Loppers
• Hedge trimmers
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Rake

Instructions

1. Examine the dwarf burning bush shrub in the spring and look for any branches that have no leaves or that have leaves that are brown or discolored. Prune these branches off near the base of the shrub using hand pruners or loppers.

2. Plug the cord of a pair of hedge trimmers into an electrical outlet and put on gloves and safety glasses.

3. Turn on the hedge trimmers and hold them so the blades are parallel to the top of the burning bush shrub. Move the trimmers along the top of the shrub, cutting it off at the desired height.

4. Turn the hedge trimmers so that the blades are in a vertical position and move them downward along one side of the burning bush shrub to trim it to a smooth, even surface. Repeat the process to trim the branch tips on the remaining three sides of the shrub.

5. Rake up all of the trimmed shrub parts from the ground and dispose of them.

Tips & Warnings

• If desired, you can cut the entire bush back to stubs of 12 inches long just after the shrub stops blooming. The next spring, the shrub will grow back stronger and with more branches.

References

• Terry L. Ettinger Horticulture Consulting Services: How to Prune Burning Bush
• Donnan: When to Prune Shrubs
• A Southern Garden: Burning Bush