The Seasonal Pruning Guide

Prune with confidence. Most shrubs forgive a lot — what they don't forgive is the wrong month. Spring-flowering shrubs get cut right after bloom, summer-flowering ones in late winter, evergreens get a light shape in early spring.

The three cuts

Thin. Remove whole tired stems at the base to let light in. The kindest cut — do this most.

Head back. Shorten a stem to a healthy outward bud to shape and encourage branching.

Shear. Only for hedges and topiary, only with sharp shears, never on a hot afternoon.

Bring sharp secateurs, step back often, and never take more than a third of the plant in one go. Clean your blades between plants — a two-second wipe stops disease hitching a ride.