Q: My spotted aucuba bush is at least 30 years old. It appears to be healthy in spite of getting some black leaves in the early springtime. The problem is the bush is overgrown and out of shape. Could you please give some directions on how to prune it back to shape?

   A: Aucubas are broad-leafed evergreens that aren't commonly sold as landscape plants in our area because they've been considered marginally hardy. I've found they usually do pretty well -- especially in protected, part-shady spots such as along an eastern wall or in a courtyard. Your 30-year-older proves they're certainly doable here.

   The black leaves are a result of cold damage. Just snip them off in late March or early April along with the tips of any stems that were damaged by cold.

   As for reshaping and resizing an overgrown aucuba, most people would just shear them back to the desired size at the end of winter. That'll work, but I think a better way is to use hand-pruners to first thin out excess and crossing branches, then prune back the remaining branches by about one-third. Ideally, prune just above outward-facing buds and branches so the plant grows into a vase form.

   This kind of pruning gives the plant a better, more open and healthier form than shearing back all the branches into a big ball.