How to Prune and Cut Camellias

Cut dead branches and diseased areas from the shrub with the pruning shears. Remove as little as possible but ensure that you cut the branch back to a healthy location. While you can cut dead and diseased areas at any time to protect the health of the bush, you should only continue to prune healthy areas of the shrub in the spring before new growth forms.

Prune unsightly branches from the shrub that disrupt the natural shape or appearance of the plant. Cut only one or two branches at a time, then step back to review your work before cutting more branches so that the shrub does not begin to appear spindly.

Cut 1 or more inches from each healthy branch to control the size and shape of the shrub. The amount that you cut will depend on the length of the branch and the desired size of the finished plant. To maintain the shrub's current size during the next year’s growth, you should trim approximately 1 to 2 inches from the length. To create smaller shrubs, cut a longer length from each branch; however, do not cut more than two-thirds of the branch length from the plant or it will take several growing seasons to regrow to its former size and may damage its ability to bloom.

Prune overgrown or dying camellia branches by cutting each branch to a healthy location or even to the base of the plant. This rejuvenation pruning will take several growing seasons to regrow but will help to improve the health of the plant.

Prune older camellias into trees by cutting the lowest branches with the pruning shears to create a trunk for the tree. Trim the upper part of the shrub as you would during a normal pruning. Training a camellia into a tree may take up to three years; however, if you continue to trim the tree trunk and prune the top to control the size and shape, you will end up with a flowering tree over time.