How to prune sungold cypress

Late spring, after the flush of new golden growth. Remove dead whips by tracing to the base. Trim back overlong shoots to a healthy side branch. Avoid cutting into old, leafless wood — bare stems on Chamaecyparis pisifera will not re-bud.

Annually or as needed. Sungold is a semi-weeping, thread-leaf false cypress with a naturally mounding habit. It needs very little pruning — remove dead or brown interior branches and any overly vigorous upright shoots that break the rounded outline. Light tip trimming in late spring can control spread on smaller sites without harming the plant.

Remove dead whips by tracing to the base. Trim back overlong shoots to a healthy side branch. Avoid cutting into old, leafless wood — bare stems on Chamaecyparis pisifera will not re-bud.