Prune your shrubbery and the Knights will say 'Neat!'

To homeowners whose knowledge of shrubbery begins and ends with Monty Python, the broken and bowed branches in the yard may be no laughing matter. But with a few pruning tips and the right tools you can soon have shrubs that "look nice" day and Knight.

Shrubs and trees that have suffered winter damage should be pruned promptly to prevent pests and diseases from further damaging the plant. As a rule, healthy deciduous, flowering and fruit-bearing shrubs are best pruned when they're dormant or before or after they flower and evergreen shrubs are better trimmed in late spring or early summer.

Light trimming is best for all stressed-out shrubs. "Instead of giving your shrubs a bad haircut, it's actually very simple to give them a day at the spa," explains garden expert Carol Chernega, creator of the DVD Pruning Shrubs with Your Personal Gardener. Her five-point schedule for precise pruning includes:

1. Know what you're pruning. Use the Internet to identify any unknown shrubs in your garden. This way, you can prune them according to their ideal shape.


2. Cut the dead weight first. Cut out the dead or broken branches first. This may leave a big gap, but you'll be able to tailor the rest of your pruning to compensate for the opening.


3. Cut back to the right points. Always cut back to a bud or branching point. Long stubs are not only unattractive but invite insects and disease.


4. Target crossing branches. After you eliminate the dead branches, target crossing branches or ones likely to cross in the future. This will avoid wounds from rubbing together making the branches vulnerable to pests and disease.


5. Cut with the flow. Finally, cut out all branches that are not going in the natural direction of the plant. This is good for the health of the plant, as well as the look of your garden.

In your quest to neaten your yard, some trimming and edging may also be in order. To help, check our new ratings of string trimmers in which we found some corded and cordless electric models that did as well as some gas trimmers. It's not the Holy Grail, but it's pretty close.

Reporting by Gian Trotta