To trim bushes effectively, follow these key steps and techniques:

• Use the right tools such as pruning shears for small branches, lopping shears for medium branches, and hedge trimmers for shaping larger hedges.
• Apply three types of cuts: thinning (removing entire branches at their origin to increase air and light penetration), heading (cutting a portion of a branch back to a bud to stimulate growth), and shearing (shaping the bush without concern for bud placement, typically with hedge trimmers).
• For healthy growth, avoid shearing bushes more than once a year and prefer thinning and heading for long-term health.
• Trim young plants within the first couple of years close to the ground to encourage new growth from the base.
• For larger branches, use the three-cut method: start with a small cut on the underside of the branch away from the trunk, follow with a top cut outside the first cut to remove the branch, then make a final cut above the branch collar.
• When shaping hedges, cut the sides vertically with a sweeping arc motion, and the top horizontally with a slight angle using a scything motion to clear clippings.
• For shrubs, prune non-flowering ones in early spring during dormancy and prune flowering shrubs right after their flowering period depending on their bloom timing.
• Remove up to one-third of the oldest or least productive branches over time to encourage healthy new growth.

These methods ensure neat, healthy bushes and hedges with improved air circulation and better overall vigor.