How to Prune Evergreen Shrubs and Trees

Updated June 2026

Pruning your evergreen shrubs and trees properly requires technique and timing. Most varieties of evergreen shrubs used as foundation plantings require yearly pruning to keep them healthy and in a desirable shape and size. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create a tidy-looking landscape with thriving shrubs and trees!

Quick Reference: Best Time to Prune Evergreen Shrubs and Trees

One of the most common questions we get is: when is the best time to prune evergreen shrubs? The short answer is that timing varies by plant type, but most evergreens respond best to pruning in early spring before new growth emerges, or again in mid-summer to shape the season’s new growth.

Evergreen Type	Best Time to Prune	Light Maintenance OK?
Arborvitae	Early spring or mid-summer	Yes, year-round
Juniper	Early spring (aggressive)	Yes, year-round
Spruce	Early spring (before new growth)	Minimal needed
Yew	Early spring (if overgrown)	Yes, year-round
Boxwood	Late winter / early spring	Yes, avoid late summer–fall
Evergreen Trees	Early spring before new growth	Minimal shaping only

As a rule, avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall. Cutting back evergreen shrubs too late in the season stimulates new growth that won’t have time to harden off before winter, which can lead to winter damage or dieback.

How to Prune Evergreen Shrubs: Species-by-Species Guide

Arborvitae

In early spring or mid-summer, shear along the sides and top of the plant to maintain the desired size and keep growth thick and full. Arborvitae respond well to regular trimming and are one of the more forgiving evergreens to work with.

Pro tip: Never cut back into bare, brown wood on arborvitae. Unlike yews, they will not regenerate from old wood, so always leave some green growth on any branch you trim.

Juniper

This large and widespread group of evergreens comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors — from low-spreading ground covers to tall upright forms.

• Upright junipers should be pruned regularly at the sides and top to maintain the desired shape.
• Shrub-form junipers can be shaped by cutting back the most vigorous growth to side shoots.

Pruning can technically occur any time of year, but aggressive pruning should be reserved for early spring before new growth emerges. Trimming juniper bushes in summer is fine for light shaping.

Spruce

Spruce trees and shrubs require very little pruning to maintain their natural shape, which is part of what makes them a great landscape choice. However, if rapid growth causes open spaces to develop, you can reduce openness at the top by cutting the leader back to a lateral bud in early spring before new growth emerges.

Although spruce can be sheared to shape, it’s generally not recommended. The effect is unnatural and often unnecessary. Work with the tree’s natural form whenever possible.

Yew

When pruning a yew, shear or selectively prune back to side shoots or buds, depending on the look you’re after. Light pruning can be done throughout the year and is generally the best practice for maintaining size and shape. Any severe pruning on an overgrown yew should be done in early spring.

Yews are one of the most resilient evergreens. They can be cut back hard and will regenerate from old wood, making them a good candidate for renovation pruning if a plant has become overgrown.

Boxwood

The quintessential foundation plant, boxwood should be trimmed to shape before the plant breaks dormancy in very late winter or early spring. Late spring pruning is also acceptable for that tight, well-manicured look.

We recommend a light pruning to maintain shape throughout the year. However, avoid pruning boxwood during late summer, fall, or most of winter. Late-season pruning stimulates tender new growth that is highly vulnerable to winter injury.

How to Prune Evergreen Trees

Evergreen trees like spruce, arborvitae grown as trees, juniper trees, and pine require a somewhat different approach than shrubs. 

When to Prune Evergreen Trees

The best time to prune evergreen trees is early spring, just before new growth begins. This timing allows the tree to quickly seal pruning wounds with new growth and minimizes the risk of insect damage or disease.

Light shaping can also be done in mid-summer after the flush of new growth has partially hardened. Avoid pruning evergreen trees in late summer or fall; this is especially important for pine and spruce, which are more sensitive to late-season cuts.

How to Trim Evergreen Trees

• Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first. These can be removed at any time of year.
• Shape the canopy by selectively removing branches that cross or crowd others, always cutting back to a lateral branch or bud.
• Trim the bottom of evergreen trees (limbing up) to improve light penetration and air circulation. This is best done in early spring and should be done gradually over several years rather than all at once.
• Never remove more than one-third of the live canopy in a single season.

Can You Trim Evergreen Trees Yourself?

Light pruning on smaller trees is absolutely a DIY-friendly task with the right tools. For larger trees (anything that requires a ladder or involves branches near power lines), we always recommend bringing in a professional landscape maintenance team. We want you to stay safe!

Cutting Back Overgrown Evergreen Shrubs

If your evergreen shrubs have gotten out of hand, that’s okay! Overgrown evergreen shrubs are one of the most common landscape maintenance challenges we see. Here’s how to approach renovation pruning:

• For yews and boxwood: These can handle aggressive cutbacks. In early spring, cut back to the desired size and shape. The plant will regenerate with new growth through the season. It may take 2-3 seasons to fully fill back in.
• For arborvitae and juniper: These are more sensitive. You cannot cut back into dead interior wood and expect regrowth. Instead, reduce the plant by no more than one-third per season and work gradually over multiple years. In severe cases, replacement may be the better option.
• For spruce: Aggressive renovation pruning is not recommended. Spruce does not regenerate from old wood. If a spruce has become severely overgrown, consult a landscape professional before making significant cuts.

Can You Trim Evergreen Bushes in the Summer?

Yes, with some important caveats. Light trimming of evergreen bushes in summer is generally fine and can help maintain shape after the spring flush of new growth. Mid-summer is actually an ideal time for a second light shearing on fast-growing shrubs like arborvitae and juniper.

However, avoid heavy or aggressive pruning of evergreen bushes in summer, particularly as you move into late July and August. The closer you get to fall, the greater the risk of stimulating new growth that won’t harden before the first frost.

The sweet spot for summer trimming is late June through mid-July.

Pruning Notes for Deciduous Shrubs

Not all the shrubs in your landscape are evergreens, so it’s worth a quick overview of how deciduous shrubs differ in their pruning needs:

• Minimal pruning shrubs (azaleas, flowering dogwood, magnolias, viburnum, lilacs): These develop a branch framework from which they bloom year after year. Remove only dead, damaged, or diseased wood, crossing branches, suckers, and water sprouts. Excessive pruning can prevent blooming.
• Spring flowering shrubs (forsythia, mock orange, beautyberry, weigela, spirea): Prune as soon as they finish blooming in spring. These shrubs flower on new growth made over the summer, so you want to encourage that growth as early as possible. Each spring, you can remove up to one-third of old stems at ground level.
• Summer flowering shrubs (roses, butterfly bush, panicle hydrangea, althea, abelia, oakleaf hydrangea): Prune in early spring before they begin to leaf out. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood and cut back by 25–75% depending on plant size and desired bloom performance. More aggressive pruning generally means fewer but larger flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Evergreen Pruning