Deciduous shrubs that flower in spring and early summer need annual pruning to encourage strong, healthy shoots and improve flowering. Annual pruning also prolongs the life of these early-flowering shrubs.
Early-flowering shrubs are pruned after flowering (in late winter to spring and early summer, depending on the shrub).

They usually flower on the previous year’s growth. Pruning immediately after flowering allows the maximum time for development of young growth to provide the following year’s flowers before the end of summer.

Pruning requirements depend on the type of shrub, but all early-flowering shrubs need routine removal of damaged, diseased or dead wood, as follows:

• Cut out any damaged or dead shoots back to their point of origin or to ground level.
• Where there are many stems remove some to ground level to keep the bush open and avoid congestion. 
• Finally take out any weak, spindly or twiggy shoots right to the point of origin or to ground level so the plant concentrates its resources on strong new shoots that will bear the best flowers.
• Deciduous shrubs with flowers on strong young growth
• Prune immediately after flowering.

Examples: Flowering currant (Ribes), Forsythia, mock orange (Philadelphus), Weigela.
Pruning: Cut back flowered growth to strong young shoots lower down. Each year cut out up to 20 percent of ageing stems to near the base.

• Medium to large shrubs that naturally form a well-branched framework.
• Prune in late winter after flowering (when still dormant).

Examples: Snowy mespilus (Amelanchier), witch hazel (Hamamelis), lilac (Syringa).
Pruning: No routine pruning. Remove crossing or badly-positioned shoots in late winter. Deciduous magnolias are pruned in the same way, but in late summer.

• After pruning, mulch and feed
• Use bark or gravel to mulch
• A slow release fertilizer for longer feeding (6-9 months)
• Use a liquid feed for a 'boost'