Question: My elaeagnus has grown too fast. In fact, it’s grown in a really odd way. How do I trim those long branches off?

Answer: Those long, arching branches can be trimmed back into the canopy of the shrub at any time during the growing season. If you do it carefully, you won’t even be able to tell you’ve done any pruning at all. However, because the plant does grow rather vigorously, don’t try to keep it too short (allow 5 to 6 feet in height and 6 to 8 feet in width), and avoid formal shaping. It just isn’t a formal kind of a plant.