Don’t prune these now
PHILADELPHUS or any other spring-flowering shrub that hasn’t flowered yet, such as ceanothus, escallonia, kerria (see below), lilac, osmanthus or ribes. Instead, prune these after flowering in the late spring or summer. Doing so now will remove the flower buds.
KERRIA JAPONICA produces flowers on last year’s growth and shoots from the base. Prune a third of the stems to ground level when it has finished blooming.
ANY SHRUB, HEDGE OR TREE that has nesting birds. It is illegal to knowingly do so – pruning causes huge disruption to breeding and can destroy the eggs of any birds already nesting.