Pruning Basics Sharp tools are critical, they make clean cuts that callous over properly and reduce chance of insect of fungus attack. Use the right tool, if you are cutting branches or stems over 3/4" in diameter you should be using a pruning saw or long handle loppers, not secateurs. Remove dead and damaged wood at any time, don't worry about the season. If a plant is sick, wash your tools with bleach between cuts.
Common Shrubs to Prune in early Spring
Japanese Maples	Prune out winter killed wood, prune for shape.
Service Berry	Prune for shape and to remove crossing branches.
Barberry	Prune for shape.
Butterfly Bush	Cut out all dead wood each spring, often dies back to the ground, but usually recovers.
Dogwood	Prune out oldest stems to keep new growth coming from the bottom.
Smokebush	Cut out dead wood in early Summer, often doesn't leaf until June, so don't cut it back too soon!
Cotoneaster	Remove dead wood and prune for shape and size.
Burning Bush	Prune for shape and size.
Hibiscus	Rose of Sharon, Prune for shape and to remove dead wood, often doesn't leaf until June, so don't cut it back too soon!
Hydrangea	Pee Gee types; prune back to strong wood, Annabelle type; cut back to 1-2' tall, bigleaf types; prune out dead wood.
Privet	Cut out dead wood, trim for shape, may be renewed by cutting down to 6-12" tall.
Mock Orange	Prune out any wood older than about five years, trim for shape. May be pruned lightly after it flowers.
Potentilla	Cut down to 12" tall and remove the oldest wood every Spring.
Sand Cherry	Prune out old wood and head back stems to encourage side and base branching.
Alpine Currant	Trim for shape, cut out oldest stems.
Dappled and Arctic Willow	Cut back hard every Spring.
Elderberry	Can be cut back severely to control size or just prune out dead wood.
Dwarf Spires	Cut down to 6-8" tall and prune out oldest wood each Spring. Deadhead after first blooms in June to encourage re-blooming.
Viburnum	Prune out oldest wood and crossing branches on multi stem types, prune all other types for shape.
Common Shrubs to Prune after blooms drop
Forsythia	Prune stems out at the base, stems may be headed back to different lengths to control overall size
Lilacs	Major pruning should be done while the shrub is dormant, maintenance pruning should be done after blooms fall, it is not necessary to remove seed heads.
Bridalwreath Spires	Trim out a few of the oldest stems back to the ground each Spring, before growth begins, all other pruning may be done after the blooming period.
Weigela	Prune lightly each summer after blooming is over, heavy pruning and the removal of larger stems may be done in early Spring.
Evergreens and Broadleaf Evergreens Prune evergreens after the new growth had hardened off, usually in July. Don't cut evergreen branches back passed the extent of the foliage, or the branches won't produce new growth.