How to prune a bush without killing it

Spring pruning also means you can ensure your shrub has a nice shape, while giving you the opportunity to cut out dead, diseased or dying stems.

When to prune flowering shrubs

After pruning, mulch plants with a generous layer of garden compost or well-rotted manure, to give them a boost.

It's worth getting kitted out with some good-quality pruning tools. Secateurs, loppers and a folding pruning saw will enable you to tackle a wide variety of jobs.

More on pruning:

Find out which plants should be pruned in spring, below.

Tender shrubs

Mediterranean shrubs such as lavender can be pruned in early autumn when temperatures are still mild, or in spring, after the harsh conditions of winter.

If you live in a northern or eastern area it's best to prune in spring as the old stems and flowers help protect new shoots from frost in winter. Other tender shrubs to prune in spring include cistus and rosemary.

Summer-flowering shrubs

Flowering shrubs that bloomed in the summer such as fuchsia and buddleja should be cut back hard in spring to encourage a burst of new growth from the base of the plant, and

how to cut back bushes in spring

how to prune plants in spring