Q: Please tell me when and how to prune blue junipers. We have some that are getting too big. Debra Staples, email

A: The best time to prune junipers is right after new growth begins, probably in mid- to late April. Plan your cuts so that you leave some green foliage beneath each one. If you don’t leave any greenery, the brown stub will die. Unlike broadleafed shrubs, junipers have few, if any, dormant buds which can sprout into new growth after pruning.