- 1). Cut off all broken, dead, crossed and diseased branches with pruning shears, starting at the top of the bush and working your way down.
- 2). Examine the shrub as a whole after trimming off a few branches and stems. Prune back stray branches that ruin the shape of the bush, maintaining the overall shape as you go.
- 3). Trim the tallest and oldest stems on the bush to thin it out. Cut branches back to the "Y" made by two branches, the main stem or at ground level with shears, loppers or saw depending on the thickness of branches.
- 4). Prune back the ends of woody branches to the first healthy bud; this is known as heading back. Make the cut 1/4 inch above the healthy bud at a slight angle, not straight across. Remove one bud in the direction you want growth if two are present on the branch.
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