Miller Yard Maintenance Banner

Contractor / Landscaping in Vancouver, Washington.

General Contractor# MILLEYM912B2

Shrubs

Some varieties of shrubbery can be machine sheared with a hedge trimmer and not suffer ill effects, but many of the varieties we have in Clark County must be hand pruned. Hand pruning allows me to thin for light and air and produces a more natural look. Also, when a sheared shrub grows out a little, it begins to look "ragged," whereas a hand pruned shrub still looks natural when it grows out.

Main objectives when pruning shrubs:


  • Pruning for size
  • The shrub should fit the space it's in.
  • Lower leaves should not touch the ground. When they do, they are slug bait.
  • Pruning for light and air
  • Light should reach the center of the shrub. If it can't, leaves cannot grow there.
  • Pruning to enhance blossom size and durability
  • When done correctly, shrubs should be attractive immediately after pruning and for a long time thereafter.

Here are some examples, before and after.

Click on a picture to enlarge it.

Green shrubbery in front of a house, with a window and a deck visible.

This Andromeda has gotten too big for its location.

Green shrubs in front of a white house with a dark door, brown mulch ground covering.

Hand prune an Andromeda so it looks natural and fits the space it's in.

A small backyard with a hedge and bushes, a wooden fence, and a shed.

Flower sets can be saved when rhododendrons are properly pruned.

Hedged garden with dark brown mulch, green plants, and a wooden fence. Bright sunlight.

Hand prune an Andromeda so it looks natural and fits the space it's in.

A small, variegated shrub with light green and white foliage in an outdoor setting.

A sprawling azalea.

Variegated shrub with light green and white leaves, set in dark brown soil with evergreen background.

Now it looks like it belongs there, and will produce longer lasting blooms.

Green shrub and mulch bed against a wooden fence, with green grass in the foreground.

This azalea barely fits the space, is slug bait, is too dense, and is not attractive.

Bush in front of a wooden fence on a bed of mulch, with grass in the foreground.

Now it fits better, no leaves touch the ground, light can get to the center, and it's more attractive.

Tall green arborvitae trees lined up next to a white house with a gravel driveway and a lawn.

Arborvitaes will become spindly, and the branches will bend outward if not topped. Cutting the tops forces the branches to grow thicker, supporting the weight.

Tall, cylindrical evergreen trees create a privacy hedge along a driveway next to a white house with a grey roof.

I caught these in time.

Bare rose bush, recently pruned, in a mulched bed against a white wall.

Cut roses to about 2' tall, like this, around Thanksgiving time or when they stop blooming.

Pruned rose bush in brown soil with a white downspout in the background.

Then remove all but 3 to 5 of the healthiest canes, and cut those just above a lateral bud which points in the direction you want growth to go, around Washington's birthday.

Miller Yard Maintenance

STEVE MILLER

Owner / Laborer

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

(360) 258-6383

"Healthy yards through knowledge and experience"


The best choice to call when you want:


  • Hand thinned & shaped shrubs, hedges & trees
  • Lawn maintenance including cut new edges; bark; aerate; dethatch; feed; treat pH & clay; insect, disease, & weed control
  • Roof, concrete, deck & fence cleaning and treatment
  • Retaining walls, fences, sheds & decks built
  • Over-seeding and lawns installed
  • Sprinkler systems designed, installed and maintained

Miller Yard Maintenance • (360) 258-6383 • Vancouver, WA 98684

© 2026 
Miller Yard Maintenance