Making the First Cut.

Apr 02, Summer blooming shrubs such as summerweet (Clethra alnifolia) and blue mist spirea (Caryopteris x clandonensis) are pruned in late winter/early spring because their flower buds form on new wood produced during the current season.

Spring flowering shrubs (those that bloom before mid-June) should be pruned after bushhaul.barted Reading Time: 3 mins. Sep 26, Pruning is an important cultural practice to maintain the health and appearance of flowering shrubs. Removal of dead, damaged or diseased wood reduces insect and disease problems while allowing the pruner to catch problems before they get out of bushhaul.barted Reading Time: 4 mins.

If you have an overgrown shrub that is no longer flowering, try rejuvenation pruning in early spring by cutting all the stems back to the ground.

Pruning immediately after flowering allows gardeners to enjoy the spring flower display and provides adequate time for the shrubs to initiate new flower buds for next season. Summer-flowering shrubs, such as potentilla and Japanese spirea, bloom in summer on the current year's growth.

Prune summer-flowering shrubs in late winter or early spring. Apr 23, When pruning mature, overgrown shrubs, remove the thickest branches first. Cut them back to the base of the shrub to promote new growth.

Hand pruners are useful for smaller branches. Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins.