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Camellias need little pruning. You'll only need to prune to get rid of dead or weak wood, to thin out areas, or to shape the plant to a more pleasing form. Cut just above a leaf, a bud, or a side branch. Choose a leaf that points in the direction you want the new growth to go. Otherwise, cut just above the slightly thickened area that indicates the previous year's growth.
If your plant overproduces blooms, remove buds during the middle of summer. Keep just one or two round flower buds in clusters at the end of branches. Keep a single flower bud every 2 to 4 inches along each stem.
