Timing

• Prune branches to a bud point or to the branch collar.s??cateurs image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
  
  Prune chaste trees in late winter to early spring, before the plant leafs out. Pruning while the tree is dormant allows you to see the chaste tree's shrubby structure without obstructing leaves. If you choose to trim your chaste tree as a multitrunked or single-trunked specimen, pruning at this time is vital to creating a balanced, well-proportioned small tree rather than allowing the irregular growth habit to overtake the form.
  
  

Damage

• Although chaste trees limbs are fairly flexible and resistant to breakage, wind damage may occur. Prune these branches out to prevent further damage and to prevent entry points for pests and disease. In colder zones, winter temperatures of zero degrees Fahrenheit may severely damage old wood or kill the shrubby tree to the ground. Fortunately, the chaste tree blooms on new growth and will produce late spring or summer flowers, even when recovering from harsh winters.
  
  

Form

• Chaste trees are versatile. If you prefer a medium-sized, spring-blooming shrub, prune the plant back firmly in late winter. Alternatively, this plant makes an ornamental, small multitrunked tree 12 to 15 feet tall. Select the strongest trunks to create a vase shape, keeping to odd numbers if possible, and trim away smaller suckers or low growth. Some bold gardeners choose to grow the chaste tree as a single-trunked specimen, although they may find themselves fighting the tree's natural growth habit.
  
  

Flowers

• In warmer climates, the chaste tree blooms in late spring. It waits until summer to bloom in cooler zones, but in either location it blooms from new growth. Removing the old flowers triggers this new growth, and the chaste tree often reblooms for the dedicated deadheading gardener. Removing the spent blooms also helps control seed production, limiting the shrub's invasiveness while drawing bees and butterflies to your garden.