The benefits of pruning flowering shrubs are real, and two of them worth.

In general terms, we want to prune after flowering is finished but before budding begins. You want to prune before buds are set to keep from disturbing the following year’s blooms. As a rule, flowering plants that bloom in early spring on old wood (or growth from the previous season), like azaleas, should be pruned a week or two after flowering. Apr 20, The Dos and Don’ts of Pruning Shrubs. Snip your front yard's shrubs into shape with our easy-to-follow pruning tips.

By Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila. Photo: bushhaul.bar Shrubs play a DO Prune Shrubs When Planting. DON’T Forget to Maintain Your Tools.

Sharpen your pruning shears to ensure the smoothest cuts, and keep them clean to avoid transmitting infection from a diseased shrub to a healthy one.

DO Prune Flowering Shrubs at the Right Time Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins. Oct 05, Using pruners or a pruning saw, you’ll cut each of the heaviest stems as close to the ground as possible. This method of managing large shrubs stimulates the plant to produce new growth just below the pruning cut, close to the ground.

If you just trim the tops of the shrubs, they will grow even leggier and bushhaul.barted Reading Time: 2 mins.