Here are some exceptions to the pruning recommendations I posted Wednesday.
For spring bloomers like lilacs, it's best to wait until after their flowers fall. It's fine to prune now, but you'll be removing flower buds and have fewer blossoms this year. It's up to you.
Forsythia and privet should be pruned every year. Spirea and weigela should be pruned every two to three years.
Clethra and cotoneasters should seldom be pruned.
Butterfly bush (Buddleia) should never be pruned in fall or it will die. Instead, cut it all the way to the ground every year in early spring.
Only deadhead rhododendrons and mountain laurels if they aren't full enough, and do it immediately after flowering. Waiting even a week will defeat the process and you'll still end up with leggy plants.
