Yews can be pruned in the spring before new growth begins. Yews are easy to prune because they form new growth up and down the stem and eventually fill in. Avoid pruning late in the summer or fall, since any new growth will not harden-off in time before winter begins.

Cotoneaster is usually pruned by the heading-back method. Removing unwanted branches back to a main limb or to a Y-shaped branch and removing one side to shorten the plant.
See Pruning Deciduous Shrubs leaflet on our website for additional information.