Shrubs rarely need to be pruned (of course, I would say that: I’m a laidback gardener!), but if you do feel the need to prune (remove a few old or damaged branches, for example, or rejuvenate a scraggly older shrub), be aware that if you don’t want to sacrifice flower buds already present on the stems, the best time to do it is within 2 or 3 weeks after the shrub blooms. Therefore prune spring flowering shrubs in May or June after they stop blooming, summer-flowering shrubs in July or August when the last flower has faded and autumn-flowering shrubs after the first frost or the following spring.

As for dead branches … well, you can remove those at any season!