You wouldn't normally prune anything in the middle of winter, the risk of frost damage, poor healing, and then disease is increased. But if you want some winter decorations then go ahead and cut a few stems. Pruning after flowering is the norm for all spring-flowering shrubs, simply because it avoids losing the blooms. If you don't care about the blooms then you can prune before flowering. Pruning after flowering may lose the berries anyway, but you can sometimes prune carefully to leave them. Early pruning is the norm for shrubs with summer flowers or where you are looking for nice foliage, a good hard cop encourages lots of fresh growth and flowers. Late winter and spring, before the main growth flush, is a good time to remove any dead or damaged branches each year, whether you want to remove more or not. Avoid pruning in late summer and autumn in colder areas, you are likely to force some late growth which may be killed in winter.

I'm in the process of systematically cutting back my larger bushes. They've gotten too big for me to handle and deadhead, especially from my scooter. Bushes 6 feet tall are being cut down to one foot. So far everyone I've done has come back nicely. Several large Explorers and rugosas have been cut back or are being done. My goal is to get them all done by mid July. All mine are own root so I don't worry about grafts. My advice: Don't be limited by the 1/3 or 2/3 rule. Cut back what you want. BTW, I expect mine to bloom again this season. Some repeat bloomers done earlier are already setting buds.

DO IT NOW! Don't delay like I did last year - I have two 10-ft tall butterfly bushes now. They're waaaay out of control. I'm waiting for a "good" day (I'm undergoing chemo right now so I tire out early - see MAGTAG 2009 post) to tackle this. Actually, you might want to wait until this predicted sleet storm is over with, come to think of it.

They do not grab onto wood lattice panels well at all. I had hubby build them all over my yard before I found this out.....I have had trouble with chicken wire too. They do grab on to rebar, wire fencing, cattle panels, twine, wire obelisks....I have just been to a big open garden where they used the wire mesh grids for reinforcing concrete (4 x 8 $7.50 ea at Home Depot) and rebar to build many structures for Clemmies. Some free standing, some up against fences, some leading them into trees. They blend in to the scenery. They have used them for years. I've been to the garden many times but finally the man who built all the structures was there to talk to. Cattle panels found at Tractor/Livestock supply stores are heavier, don't cut as easily but make great archways you can walk through for under $25.00. You can make a teepee out of rebar and a hose clamp too. I've seen rebar "ladders" welded together too with decades old Clemmies on them. Reinforcing mesh wrapped around free standing 4 x 4's at another garden. There are wire trellises you can buy that are curved to cover up downspouts or lamp posts but the wire grids are much cheaper.