Question: How can I prune my pittosporums that have grown too tall?

Answer: If you look closely at a given branch of pittosporum, you’ll see that the new growth emerges from a cluster, or whorl, of branches. One of the new twigs will become dominant and shoot out several inches beyond the others in the same whorl. When it comes time to prune, you need to trace those dominant branches back into the plant and trim flush with the rest of one of the whorls. One of the other somewhat dormant twigs will take over and fill in. This is a process intended only for hand shears. Electric or gas hedge trimmers will ruin pittosporums.