Pruning Mahonia: Balancing Flowers and Form

Q: Is it too late for a hard pruning on mahonia?

A: Mahonia offers fragrant yellow flowers in late winter and blue berries that wildlife love, but its spiny foliage can become unruly. If you don't mind sacrificing this year's blooms, you can remove the tallest stems and shorten long branches now. Otherwise, wait until after flowering next spring for more severe pruning.