The light-colored shoots called candles that grow from buds on many evergreens (left half of this partly pruned mugo pine) should be trimmed (right half) in the spring to keep the plant compact.

For thicker foliage, pinch off half the candle (line); to maintain the tree's present size, snap it all off. Do this before needles form, while the candles are still soft enough to be snapped with two fingers (inset).