Question
My shrubs have gotten too big, and if i trim them much, all i end up with is leafless stems. All the leaves are on the ends so i have just been shaping them, and now have left them alone for about 6 months.

Answer
Hi John,
Thanx for your question.  Before I answer it, are you talking about the Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) or a shrub?  I think I remember seeing some references to a shrub called redbud.  Please let me know.  I can tell you one thing, always prune right after the blooming period is over and you will do very little damage to next year's bloom.  If this is a shrub, shaping should be done after the last bloom.  If it is a tree,train the tree to have one trunk to reduce stress on it.  Make sure branches are clear of pedestrian and auto traffic.  I hope this helps.
Tom