Q: I have a very large schefflera in a five gallon container. It lives in front of a big window indoors in the winter and on my deck in the summer. How do I trim it before I take it back inside?

A: Schefflera is easy to prune and rarely harmed by the process. Get some red ribbon or yarn and cut it into 4″ lengths. Tie a piece around each limb you think you’d like to remove at the spot you plan to make the cut. The best place to cut is where two limbs meet. Your aim is to keep the smaller one and take out the larger. After tying the yarn at all of your pruning points, slowly walk around the schefflera and make sure it will be smaller but still have an attractive form when you are finished. When you are satisfied, prune away!