Pruning Shrubs - an A-z listing
(Pruning shrubs will never be so simple - when you follow our pruning guide)

The importance of pruning shrubs at the right time of year cannot be overstressed. If you prune some shrubs in the autumn, then you could be cutting off all of the next year's flower buds. Timing of pruning is the most important aspect for success.

(If you require basic technique information click here)

A/

Abelia 

Acer

Amelanchier
Apple trees
Arbutus
Aucuba
Azalea Mollis types (deciduous) - simply dead head the faded flowers before they set seed. Otherwise see Rhododendron pruning.
Azalea japonica types (evergreen)  

B/

Berberis (evergreen types)
Berberis (deciduous)
Buddleja (davidii types)
Buddleja alternifolia
Brachyglottis (Senecio) - normal pruning 
Brachyglottis (Senecio - hard pruning 

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C/

Callicarpa - as per Buddlejahs.
Camellia
Caryopteris
Catalpa bignonioides Aurea
Ceanothus (deciduous types)
Ceanothus (evergreen types)
Ceratostigma
Chaenomeles
Choisya
Cistus
Cornus (alba, stolonifera  and sanguinea types)
Cotinus Royal Purple - for foliage effect
Cotoneaster

Cytisus scoparius (Broom)           

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D/

Daphne - only if necessary
Deutzia

E/

Elaeagnus  - Evergreen Types can be cut back quite hard during April/May - or later

Erica
Escallonia
Eucalyptus - for foliage effect
Eucryphia
Euonymus (evergreen) - trim to shape in spring - or cut back hard if required.
Euonymus (deciduous)
Exochorda

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F/

Fatsia

Forsythia
Fothergilla
Fuchsia (hardy)

G/

Garrya
Gaultheria

Genista
Griselinia - Can be cut back quite hard at start of Spring growing season. 

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H/

Hamamelis
Hebe

Hedera Ivy - Prune as required - at any time - other than winter.
Hibiscus Very little pruning needed
Hydrangea macrophylla types  ie. Normal garden mop-head or lace-cap types
Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora  The arching ones with white/cream flowers.
Hydrangea petiolaris - Trim as required after flowering
Hypericum


I/
Ilex - trim in early spring - if required

J/ Jasminum nudiflorum - Cut back the flowered shoots to within a few cm of the older branch. Also cut back  some of the older branches to within a few cm of ground level in order to promote more basal growth. To grow as a small arching shrub, prune each spring as for Buddleja.

K/
Kalmia
Kerria
Kolkwitzia

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L/
Laurus (Bay Tree) Clip to shape in April - or leave to grow into large shrub/tree!
Lavandula
Lavatera
Leptospermum
Leucothoe - rarely, and if so, just to shape - in early spring
Leycesteria
Ligustrum
Lilac (Syringa)- will tolerate hard renovation pruning also - if required. 
Lonicera

M/
Magnolia
Mahonia

Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Myrtus - Can be pruned to shape, or cut back hard in early growing season, or later in year, but not after mid August.

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N/
Nandina

O/
Olearia (Will shoot out from old wood, so can be cut back severely)
Osmanthus

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P/
Pachysandra - as and when required for shape and spread
Paeonia
Pear Trees

Pernettya - No pruning required. Cut back if necessary in April
Perovskia
Philadelphus
Phlomis - Trim as required for foliage effect - otherwise nil.
Phormium - Nil - simply remove dead or damaged foliage.
Photinia Red Robin
Phygelius - as a herbaceous perennial, simply cut back hard in the spring
Phygelius
Pieris 
Pittosporum
Potentilla
Prunus Triloba 
Pyracantha

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Q/

R/
Rhododendron
Rhus
Ribes
Robinia - Normal
Robinia - as a spectacular foliage shrub
Roses (Bush)
Rosmarinus

S/
Salix For maximum stem colour in winter
Salvia
Sambucus
Santolina
Senecia - see Brachyglottis now.
Skimmia - only if necessary 
Solanum (Evergreen climber type
Spiraea (billardii & douglasii only)
Spiraea Snowmound, Arguta, Goldflame, Vanhoutei etc (Early summer flowering types)
Syringa - will tolerate hard renovation pruning also - if required. 

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T/
Tamarix tentandra (spring flowering)
Tamarix pentandra (T. ramosissima) Late summer flowering type.

U/
Ulex

V/
Viburnum to follow
Vinca - restrict growth by cutting back hard in early spring (March)

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W/
Weigela 
Wisteria

X/
Xanthorhiza

Y/
Yucca.

Z/
Zauschneria - needs no pruning but I needed a 'Z' plant! (OK I know, Zelkovia and Zenobia etc)

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