Tidy summer flowering shrubs

Early-summer flowering shrubs are due their annual prunes about now. Treat Deutzia, Philadelphus and Wiegela the same way: cut out the old flowering shoots (they will look quite ragged with side shoots) and leave the straight shoots: these are the ones that will bloom next year. If it has been a good flowering year you might want to leave some of the old shoots for bulk!

Evergreen shrubs will want different treatment. Go lightly over Cistus and Ceanothus to neaten them up and encourage new, bushy growth. You should just be cutting into soft young growth and old flowers: they do not appreciate having their old woody growth hacked into!