Pruning Shrubs Guide and advice - an A-z listing

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. If you prune other shrubs in the spring, then the same goes. You could be cutting off the summer's flower buds. In either case, it means no flowers on your shrub!

Timing of pruning is the most important aspect for success. That is why we have put up a When to Prune Shrubs page. You can also follow our A-Z listings below for best advice on how and when to prune shrubs.

Many different shrubs require different pruning regimes, but fortunately there are a few basic rules you can follow to get it right - even if you do not know the name of your shrub. Yes, it is that easy.

(Pruning shrubs. Follow our Pruning Guide for simple explanations on how to prune shrubs)

Botanical and Common names included for ease of use in our A - Z shrub pruning guide. If you are not sure that you have identified your shrub correctly, then our a - z of shrubs listing (with pictures) should help you, If all else fails, we are always at your service. Just an email away. Send us an image of your shrub, and we will do our best to identify it for you.

A : B : C : D : E : F : G : H : I : J : K : L : M : N : O: P : Q : R : S :

T : U : V : W : X : Y : Z

(If you require basic technique information click here)

Abelia. Most are evergreen - sometimes with attractive foliage
Acer. Most Acers are best not pruned, but if you have to, then this is the way to do it.
Amelanchier. The white flowers in spring and that gorgeous autumn foliage colour can be helped with proper pruning.
Apple trees One of our most-asked pruning questions. Follow the advice for good juicy crops.
Arbutus The strawberry tree does not grow strawberries - just fruit that look like strawberries!
Aucuba - A misunderstood evergreen shrub that can actually look quite good - even spectacular - with the right pruning.

Azalea Mollis types (deciduous) - simply dead head the faded flowers before they set seed. Otherwise see

Bay Leaf Tree Pruning - Laurus nobilis - A kitchen herb favourite
Berberis (Evergreen types) Not too much pruning required, but if needs be do it this way.
Berberis (deciduous) - Need different pruning to the evergreen cousins.
Buddleia (davidii types) also known as Butterfly Bushes. Prune them right, and you will have a superb display. Leave them without pruning, and you could end up with an untidy mess!
Buddleia alternifolia - different to prune than the 'davidii types'
Buddleja - Buddleia - globosa
Brachyglottis (Senecio) - normal pruning
Brachyglottis (Senecio - hard pruning
Bride - The. Exochorda NOT Spiraea.

Callicarpa - as per Buddleias.
Camellia
Caryopteris
Catalpa bignonioides Aurea
Ceanothus (deciduous types)
Ceanothus (evergreen types)

Ceratostigma
Chaenomeles

Choisya

Cistus

Clematis Pruning - So much can go wrong with the wrong pruning. get it right here.
Cornus (alba, stolonifera and sanguinea types) Totally different pruning technique to the flowering dogwood types.
Cotinus Royal Purple - for foliage effect. This can be a spectacular shrub if pruned properly

Cotoneaster

Cytisus scoparius (Broom) - A bit short lived as a shrub, but proper pruning helps it along.

Daphne - only if necessary
Deutzia Pruning - Get the pruning right for masses of flower.
Dogwoods - Cornus pruning alba, stolonifera and sanguinea

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

Erica
Escallonia

Eucalyptus - for foliage effect. It need not grow into a tall gangly tree. It can be pruned to give a spectacular foliage display.

Eucryphia
Euonymus (evergreen) - trim to shape in spring - or cut back hard if required.
Euonymus (deciduous)

Exochorda x macrantha The Bride - Pruning
Evergreen Flowering Shrubs. How and when to prune evergreen shrubs that are grown mainly for their flowers.

Fatsia

Flowering Currant pruning
Forsythia Pruning explained How and when to prune this popular shrub.
Fothergilla
Fuchsia (hardy)

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

Hamamelis - The Witch Hazels require very little in the way of pruning. The less the better. Far better to plant this slow growing shrub in its proper place, so that pruning for 'space' does not have to take place.
Hebe - How and when to prune this valuable group of evergreen shrubs.
Hedera Ivy - Prune as required - at any time - other than winter.
Hibiscus Very little pruning needed
Honeysuckle Pruning - Lonicera climbers and shrub types.
Hydrangea macrophylla types ie. Normal garden mop-head or lace-cap types
Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens pruning The arching ones with white/cream flowers.
Hydrangea petiolaris - Trim as required after flowering
Hypericum St Johns wort abnd Rose of Sharon
Hard Pruning back - it needs doing with some shrubs

Ilex - trim in early spring - if required

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.
Japanes Maples - see Acers above

Kalmia

Kerria japonica pruning - should be carried out straight after flowering in late Spring.
Kolkwitzia - How and when to prune.

Laurus nobilis The Bay Tree - how and when to prune it.

Lavandula - Lavender

Leucothoe - rarely, and if so, just to shape - in early spring

Leycesteria

Ligustrum

Lilac (Syringa)- will tolerate hard renovation pruning also - if required.
Lonicera Pruning - Climbing and Shrub forms of the Lonicera - Honeysuckle - group of shrubs.

Magnolia. Annual - or other - pruning rarely required. The evergreen or wall trained types sometimes benefit from some pruning.

Mahonia
Maples - See Acers above.

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.

Nandina

O/

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

Pachysandra - as and when required for shape and spread
Paeonia
Pear Trees
Pernettya - No pruning required. Cut back if necessary in April

Perovskia
Philadelphus - Mock Orange

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

Potentilla

Prunus Triloba

Pyracantha

Rhododendron. Only if necessary, but there are several things that need doing.
Rhus
Ribes
Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia - Normal - or as a spectacular foliage shrub.
Roses (Bush)

Rosmarinus

Rose of Sharon - Hypericum.

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.
St Johns Wort - Hypericum.

Tamarix tentandra (spring flowering) Also known as Tamarisk
Tamarix pentandra (T. ramosissima) Late summer flowering type.

Ulex

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

Weigela - Wegella - Weigelia - How and when to prune Weigela
Wisteria
Witch Hazel - See Hammamelis above.

Xanthorhiza

Yucca.

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

Back to A-Z of Pruning Shrubs

By David Hughes