It goes without saying that if a large tree has been damaged by snow this past winter, don't tackle it yourself. That is one chore better left to the experts.

Smaller trees and shrubs are another story, says nurseryman Patrick Greaser, owner of Franklin Nursery in Franklin Park. If a branch is broken, it will have to be removed. Mr. Greaser says to cut damaged or broken limbs off cleanly, taking care not to cut into the collar -- the thick part of the limb that is right up against the trunk. If you cut into the collar, the tree will not heal properly and may be more susceptible to rot, he says.

"I've had lots of calls about damaged shrubs," he says. "Some have been smashed to the ground."

The good news is, if it's a forsythia, privet, burning bush or many other viburnums, the entire shrub can be completely cut back to about a foot above the ground, and "it will come back gangbusters," he says.

These plants actually benefit from a severe shearing, and while it may take a couple of seasons to rejuvenate, they will.

If it's boxwood that is injured, you might not want to be too quick to cut, says Mr. Greaser.

"Depending on what it is, boxwood or other flexible woody plants are best left alone for a while. The sun will do miracles," he says.

For conifers, such as yews, junipers and arborvitae, the advice isn't as straightforward. Some, like yews, can take a hard pruning, others can't. Some can be salvaged, others not, depending on the damage and their location in the landscape.

"If you have a big, old, overgrown thing on the corner of the house that is bent to the ground, it might be time to start over," says Mr. Greaser.

If you have a row of evergreens and one is damaged, it may be worth the time to attempt to cable it up and try to straighten it.

If you do decide to start new, look for plants with a single stalk, or leader. Evergreens such as arborvitae and juniper with more than one central stem are more prone to bending and breaking in inclement weather, and once bent, don't recover well. The good news is that some of the newer varieties have been bred to look just like their ancestors, but perform much better.

If it's roses that have been damaged, not to worry, says John Consigliero of Green Tree, a member of the Pittsburgh Rose Society. He says his roses have survived pretty well, but he advises homeowners to prune out broken canes now.

"I would cut them down below the break," he says. "Remove any dead or weak wood, then start cutting the remaining canes back until you get reasonably good wood. Look at the inside of the cane. Once it's fairly white in color, you've reached good wood."

He also suggests cutting back canes to an outside bud. Here's what he means: There are shoots on each cane that grow toward the center of the plant and shoots that face outward. Pruning by an outward facing bud will encourage the plant to grow outward into an urn shape.

If you are still nervous about trimming your rose, plan to attend the annual free pruning demonstration hosted by the Rose Society at Renziehausen Park in McKeesport. Dates for the event are April 11 and 18 at 1 p.m. and are held rain or shine.

There are many books on the subject of pruning, one of the newest is "The Pruning Book" by Lee Reich (Taunton Press, $21.95). This is a completely revised and updated version that gives lots of good advice on trimming everything from ornamental trees and bushes, vines, fruits, nuts, houseplants and herbaceous plants. The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and has many color photographs peppered throughout to further demonstrate how to prune.

It also gives attention to a number of varieties of conifers, many of which are quite tricky to prune. If you want to get creative, there are chapters on creating topiaries, pleaching and espalier. This would be a good all-purpose book for any gardener's library and is especially useful for weary Pittsburghers trying to clean up after winter has finally, and thankfully, passed.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.