What is the recommended approach for pruning flowering shrubs?

Pruning flowering shrubs immediately after they bloom is the recommended approach because this timing allows you to remove spent flowers while the plant is still in active growth. When flowering shrubs are pruned right after blooming, it promotes healthy growth and encourages the development of new buds that will produce flowers the following season. This method also prevents the accidental removal of flower buds that may have formed for the next year's blooms, especially in species that set their buds soon after flowering.

Timing is crucial when considering the flowering cycle of the shrub. For many flowering varieties, pruning too early in the spring or during winter dormancy can result in the loss of emerging buds. Each shrub species may have specific pruning needs based on its blooming cycle, but in general, pruning right after flowering supports a vigorous and healthy plant.