How to prune skyrocket juniper

Early spring or late summer after the main growth flush. Snip stray or broken branches back to a healthy green lateral shoot. For column maintenance, trim only the outermost green foliage. Avoid shearing the entire plant flat, which leaves unsightly dead zones that will not re-bud.

Rarely; only when dead wood or errant growth appears. Skyrocket Juniper is a narrow columnar shrub valued for its tight upright form. It rarely needs pruning — its natural shape is the selling point. Remove dead or damaged wood as it appears. You can lightly trim wayward branches to maintain the column, but never cut back to bare wood.

Snip stray or broken branches back to a healthy green lateral shoot. For column maintenance, trim only the outermost green foliage. Avoid shearing the entire plant flat, which leaves unsightly dead zones that will not re-bud.