- 1). Prune your shrubs lightly throughout the year. Decide how tall you want each layer of your shrub garden to grow, and then do not let it grow more than a few inches taller than that height. If your shrub requires a more severe pruning, wait until either the late winter or early spring.
- 2). Take a few steps back from your shrubs so you can get a good visual impression of their current appearance. Locate the branches that appear out of place.
- 3). Select a spot near a bud or off-shooting branch on the out-of-place branch to cut. If you're using a branch, make sure the offshoot is not angling more than 45 degrees from the branch you are cutting.
- 4). Cut off the branch, using sharp hedge shears or a pruning saw, at a 45-degree angle. Make sure the cut is clean the entire way through the branch. Do not rip or tear the branch to remove it.
- 5). Control the height of the lower section of shrubs by cutting from the top. Again, make sure the cuts are clean and that they are located 1/2-inch above a bud or off-shooting branch.
- 6). Expose the interior of your shrub to more sunlight by pruning some of the branches in the center. Make these cuts in the same way you made the previous cuts.
- 7). Step back occasionally while pruning to make sure the shrubs are being layered to the proper height. Do not over-prune.
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