Commercial orchardists top all of their trees like a crew cut. Every article I read says never to do this as it is very bad for the tree. Who is right? I just bought a Frost peach tree on Citation. The tag says, "Can be kept to any disired hieght by summer runing." How do you do this if you can't top the tree like the orchardists do it?
Don, Sunnyvale, CA

When and how is the best time to trim my crape myrtles? I would like them to look like ornamental trees.
Tina, White Hall

There was a deep freeze in Texas this year for several days and my gardenia brush (8ft tall) was burned on the end of each limb. When can I cut them off and where?
B.J. Troup, TX

I found you on the internet and I was hoping you could help. I have a beautiful ficus tree in my yard that my homeowners association always trims in the late Spring or early Summer. This removes all my shade for the hot summer months and increases my energy costs. In addition, I have heard that these trees should only be trimmed in the fall or winter. Do you have any information for me so that I can present it to the Homeowners Board so they will not trim my tree in the Spring or Summer.
Thanks for your help,
Bonnie,Brea CA

My hydrangea bush did not bloom this year. It was big and healthy but no flowers. I cut it back to the ground in the spring.
-Marjorie, Newtown, PA

When is the best time to prune loropetalum I cut it on 9/07/09 did I hurt the plant?
Patsy, Dublin, GA

I need to do some major shrub trimming on my front shrubs, when is the best time and how much should I trim....I know it would help to know the names of the shrubs, but I don't....I do know that some of them are boxwood that have gotten too large...some have the tiny white flowers...some have the evergreen waxy green leaf. I know the pyracantha. I also have a purple plum tree behind the shrubs, is it ok to trim it?
Judy, Maumelle

I have two Gardenia Bushes that have quit blooming and now have new leaves coming out. Is it too late to prune them?
Robert, North Little Rock

How should I prune my gardenia that is absolutely gorgeous but is quite overgrown and has dead branches in the center?
Jimmie, Gramercy

When is the best time to prune back blackberry bushes so that I have better yield next year. They are over 20 years old.They are just now producing blackberries. Many thanks.
Lynn, New Smirna Beach

We recently planted our Tea Olive bushes from a large pot. The bushes are 5-6' tall with virtually no foliage except on the top. Should these be pruned back to get bushier, and if so, how?
Deb, Ocala

I have a lilac bush(tree)that I've grown from a mother's day gift 8 years ago. It bloomed beautifully last year and is starting to show buds now, however, there are still old blossoms from last year. Should I cut these off, and if so, where do I make the cut?
Laurie, Goshen

When is the time to prune a gardenia bush?
Bobbie, Durham

When is the time to prune a gardenia bush?
Bobbie, Durham

How do you prune pompass grass? And what kind of shears do I use? Chris, pfafftown

Around the second week of February, my husband cut our holly berry bushes back about 2 feet. They were about 4 feet. They are about 25 years old. We fertilized them as well. Do you think they will come back? They look like verticle logs. There is now sign of new growth. We considered removing them a few years ago but they wouldn't budge.Is there hope for them ? Sharon Irving

How do I prune my white crep? I dont like the big knuckles I see on some trees. Tanya Marietta

What time of year do you trim hedges and prune Weeping Willow Trees? Dee Jasper

When is the best time of the year to prum gardenia bushes? Angela Naples, FL

I have 10 oleander trees at the back of my property. The are 20 ft tall. I have a neighbor insisting that I get them topped. I'm afraid they'll never be as attractively shaped if topped. Also I'm afraid they won't bloom for a long time. Are oleander trees supposed to be topped? Linda, Destin

We just bought a 2 ft Mystery Gardenia bush & I would like to prune it to where it would grow like a tree, ie, small trunk that has branches. Can this be done? My mother had one that was shaped like a tree when I was growing up in Ft Worth & I would like to see if I can do that also. thank you Sherry Raleigh

Greg, We have spirea, holly and burning bushes that have gotten out of control. Is it OK to cut them back and when is the best time? Also, my lawn is looking like it is all growing at different lengths. Some low, where looking from the house it looks like a hole and then everything in between. Any idea how to correct this? Thanks, Janice Clinton

Our azaelas are taking over the back deck. Would it hurt to trim them back now. When is the best time for pruning them. Carla Fort Valley

I have a Holly bush and all the leave are falling off. It looks awful. Is there anything I can do before I pull it out? Barb Garden City,Mi.

When is a good time to prune holly bushes.The bushes are all out of shape.They are right next to the porch,and about to take it over on one side. Trudy Carthage

When and how do I prune my wisteria vine? Thank you so much. Lynda, Middleton

I have a very large gardenia (at least 6ft) which when blooming is so heavy with blooms the branches fall over. I would like to prune severely to bring it back to at least a 5ft bush but am worried about the severeity of the pruning harming the plant. Can you give me any advice on the safety of pruning back this much of the plant? Kerry Ocala, Florida

Gregg, we have many Azaela bushes in front of the house where I rent a room. For Easter I cut 4 or 5 for a vase on the table. I was told by my landlord's brother that, "if you cut those on the "fire side, or "far side" (in other words, wrong side of the stem" that it will kill the Azaela." Do you have any idea what this means and is it true? Susan Conroe, Texas

What is the best way to prune azaela's? With Shears or hedge trimmer? When is the best time? Early spring or after they bloom? Dorothy Fayetteville

Should I prune pompas grass right now? for that matter what shrubs should be pruned Now?
Cindy, Memphis

Should I prune my hydrangea in January? and what about eggshells and coffee grinds for fertilizing them?
Cindy, Memphis

I have read on pruning Gardenia's, but the last 2 years I have not pruned it. now the leaves are all dark from frost. can I prune it in spring? also, my gardenia is short and wide, (it is a rooting off of my grandmothers gardenia bush) is there a way to make it grow taller?
thank you,
Stacy, Star City

When is the best time to prune my gardenia bushes. They are getting to tall and skimmpy looking. This is in Central Texas.
Marge, Hilltop Lakes

I've planted a weeping willow by a pond on my property. It was about 8 feet tall, with maybe a 1 inch diameter trunk. It is growing well there, branches now drape from the top to the ground - but it's kind of unsymetrical looking. Do weeping willows need some kind of pruning to get a nice symetrical weeping shape, or is this maybe because it's still a young tree and I should just let it grow itself as it will? Thanks for any suggestions.
David, Little Rock

We have holly berry bushes by our front walk, this is our first Christmas in this house, the bushes are all out of shape. would it be ok to prune them now? Should we feed them at all for their preservation in the winter. thank you Cathy, Hyde Park

I have both a male and a female holly bushes. When and to what extent should I prune them?
Harold, near Niagara Falls Canada

My Oak Leaf Hydrangeas do not have one flower this year. What did I do wrong?
Grammy State College, PA

Our landscaping men cut our hydrangeas to the ground every fall as they are beginning to blossom. How can we get them to see this is wrong? Help! Kathi

We need to cut our boxwoods back. When is the proper time and how much can we cut them back?
Martha, Roxobel

When is the best time for me to prun my gardenia bush?
Katelynn, Spring Hill,Fl