Pruning
Pruning can benefit plants as well as their surroundings greatly. When done right, it helps keep them healthy by removing diseased branches (or branches that rub together creating persistent wounds which may lead to disease) as well as dead or hazardous branches that may cause injury or damage.
You can manipulate the conditions in your garden by pruning. For example, lawns struggle to grow if they are in the shade too much of a nearby tree and hedges need routine pruning to encourage dense growth for privacy, security and shelter.
In most cases, pruning is best done late winter. This keeps the amount of time the plant remains wounded to a minimal before it heals itself through the spring growth season.