Ah, the warming days, the budding flowers. It’s that enchanting time of year when many of you will feel inspired to go outside and hack down something green.

But before you slice and dice, let’s clarify a few things about pruning.

First, pruning almost never benefits our plants. In fact, pruning is more likely to be detrimental than beneficial to the plant. Why, after all, would you think your shrubs or trees would enjoy being amputated?