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It is easy to ruin a plant by overly vigorous pruning. Do not give shrubs a “crew cut” unless they are formal accents, geometric or hedge-like. Instead, cut back here and there, shortening straggly growths, letting the shrub have a natural in-and-out habit. Shrubs such as bridal wreath spirea have a natural arching habit and should be pruned this way. The aim is to keep a shrub as natural looking as possible.