But what about when it’s been too long between prunings, the foliage is suffering, or the shrub needs some serious reshaping? How do you prune an overgrown boxwood, and when is the best time?

You'll probably be able to renovate a big old shrub instead of removing it and replacing it. Two techniques will get the job ...

When pruning, leave a small stub so the tree or shrub can heal the wound. Don’t make your cuts flush with the trunk — but don’t cut too far away, either. You should leave a small stub ...

When pruning it's essential to keep your secateurs sharp. Blunt tools can cause branches to tear, leading to wounds on the tree that will attract disease. It's also important to have a pruning saw ...

If it becomes overgrown, the shrub's branches become straggly and, like an unruly teenager, defy most attempts to be tamed. But pruning the forsythia isn't as cut and dry as you would think.