How to Prune a Smoke Bush Into Tree Form

Clear the area around the smoke bush of high grasses, weeds or garden debris. You will need a clear line of sight to step back and observe your progress.

Look at the bottom of the bush and choose one to three healthy trunks. Remove all other trunks growing from the ground by cutting them at ground level using pruning shears or a hand-held pruning saw. Place the newly cut limbs away from the shrub so you can see your work.

Expose the main trunks by removing the bottom one-third of the plant's growth from each trunk. Prune the limbs by cutting them back to the main trunks.

Step back and observe the smoke bush from a distance to see what limbs can be removed to create a tree-like effect. Cut back any sprawling long limbs that arch from the top or sides of the plant by cutting them back to a main limb. This gives a more natural appearance than shearing the top of the bush, which will also remove next season's blooms. Step back and look at the bush after each limb is cut to avoid over-pruning the shrub. Visualize how the bush will look once a limb is removed.

Prune out any crossing or wayward limbs that interfere with the tree-like design by cutting them back to a main branch. Trimming only the ends of a limb will create unattractive clusters of new growth.

Remove any new growth appearing from the base of the plant. Keep the smoke bush in a tree form by lightly pruning undesirable new growth in early spring and again in late summer.