BASIC PRUNING CUTS

Pinching
Pinch off the terminal bud with your thumb and forefinger. Pinching encourages bushy growth.

Heading
Heading is more aggressive than pinching. Cut farther back on the stem than you would for pinching. Make the cut right above a leaf. Heading encouraging dense growth. Angle cuts at 45º. See diagram.

Thinning
Thinning removes the entire stem or branch. Angle cuts at 45º. See diagram.

Shearing
Shearing is used to create a form. Shearing stimulates many buds to produce new growth. This method cuts right through leaves. Small leaved plants are best for this because the damage is less noticeable.