Once an evergreen reaches that point, it can be a real challenge to correct the problem.
Before you begin pruning,clean your pruning shearswith isopropyl alcohol to avoid spreading diseases.
Wipe down the blades again before moving on to trim a different plant.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Arborvitae
Fast-growing and tolerant of heavy pruning,arborvitaeis best pruned in early spring.
New growth will emerge from buds along the pruned branch.
Arborvitae can take annual shearing, too.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
This encourages branching and more flower buds the next season.Prune plantsright after theybloom in spring.
Boxwood
Thinning is key to maintaining a healthyboxwood plant.
In winter, thin boxwood by cutting overgrown stems back to the interior of the plant.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Thin about one-third of the stems each year to maintain a healthy plant.
Lightly prune the remaining two-thirds of the stems tocreate the desired size.
Camellia
Slow-growingcamelliasrarely need pruning.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The best time to prune is right after the plant flowers.
Prune cypress in spring or summer.
Holly
Exceptionally tolerant of heavy pruning, evergreenholliesare generally bestcut back in late winter.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The plant will actively re-grow in spring.Prune individual holly branchesto achieve a more natural-looking shape.
Shear the whole plant to give it a distinctive shape.
Juniper
Prune junipersin early spring before growth emerges.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Pines
Pines produce new growth at their branch tips in spring.
The tightly packed new growth is called a candle.
Don’t prunepinesback into woody stems because new growth won’t develop there.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Prune in late winter or very early spring before plants flower.
Cut individual branches back as needed to maintain size.
Pyracantha also tolerates shearing and can besculpted into a formal hedge.
Credit: Studio G Corporation
Rhododendron
Because they are slow-growing evergreen shrubs,rhododendronsrarely need pruning.
Severely-pruned plants might not produce flowers for one or two years.
Spruce
Prunesprucetrees in spring.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Bottom branches on spruce trees may naturally die with age, and can be removed.
Note:Firsare pruned using the same methods as spruce.
If you are creatinga formal hedge, shear in early summer after new growth emerges.
Credit: Randall Schieber
Shear again in mid-summer if needed.
Note:Hemlocksare pruned using the same methods as yews.
But no matter the key in of plant, three pruning strategies always apply.
Credit: Jay Wilde
First, trim away any dead branches, cutting back to live wood or the base of the plant.
Next, cut off broken or damaged branches.
Finally, remove crossing or rubbing branches to improve overall structure of the plant.
Credit: Jay Wilde
