How to Prune Taxus & Junipers

Taxus Pruning

• 1

  Sharpen all your tools before you begin. Run the blades two or three times over the file at a 45-degree angle to raise the best edge. Do not file more than that or you are just dulling the blade. Oil the joints and hinges of the tools so they work more easily and you don't have to work as hard.

• 2

  Step back and regard the bush and plan what the perimeter of the growth will be. Remove any branches that stick out beyond the perimeter line. Do not shear the edges of the green growth as this will encourage more growth. Find the point on the branch where it grows out of another branch and make a flush cut there.

• 3

  Maintain a strong central leader or main trunk. Remove vertical shoots that are in competition with the central leader. This forces energy into the main trunk to keep it strong. Remove the vertical growth evenly on both sides of the central leader. If there is more to remove on one side than the other, remove it at a later date. It is important to keep the cuts balanced to keep the growth balanced.

Juniper Pruning

• 4

  Remove the largest and longest limbs first. Allow shorter, skinny branches to remain. Thin out the center with your cuts. You should be able to see through the tree slightly. Remove dead growth from the center and other areas.

• 5

  Reduce the height of the juniper by no more than 20 percent. The shrub should be cut back down at least a few inches every year. Ideally it should have the height maintained from early training. If the juniper is neglected and needs more than 20 percent taken off ,you will have to do it over two growing seasons.

• 6

  Prune out the long upper limbs that shade the lower part of the plant. The overall shape should be larger on the bottom than the top. You can shear junipers into a form or leave them natural, cutting alternate limbs to open up the center.

• 7

  Use the saw to remove any competing wood growing vertical to the central leader on an upright juniper. Spreading junipers need to be cut back enough to reduce leggy growth.

• 8

  Remove excess exterior growth by pruning the greenery back to a growth node at least 3 or 4 inches inside the canopy. You can also do exterior shaping, but keep in mind this will encourage new growth so you may have to do the same shaping again that season.