Evergreen trees that need to be pruned are best clipped back in late spring or early summer. After that, they are not likely to grow much more. Evergreen shrubs can be pruned in early spring. Fruit trees should be pruned in early spring before the buds have appeared; berry bushes are typically pruned in late fall or early winter once the berries have been harvested. Rose bushes are generally best pruned in late winter, with early spring the latest cutoff time.

Do you have any questions about today’s column or any aspect of outdoor maintenance? If so, you need to talk to an expert. Our staff members have been there and we know just how to help you. We can provide the great advice you need at the start of a project to prevent unhappy outcomes. And, of course, we have all the tools you might need.

HINT: If you are cutting a straight line with a straight line with a circular saw and get off track, do not try to steer the blade back to the line. Instead, stop, allow the blade to stop spinning, withdraw the saw from the cut, and start the cut over.