1. Gather necessary tools: To prune conifers, you will need a sharp pair of bypass pruners, a pruning saw, garden gloves, and protective eyewear.

2. Clean your tools: Before starting, ensure that your cutting tools are clean and sharp to avoid the spread of diseases and to make clean cuts.

3. Choose the right time: The best time to prune conifers is late winter or early spring when the tree is still dormant and sap flow is minimal.

4. Identify the type of conifer: Conifers can be classified into two main groups – needle-leaf conifers like pines and scale-leaf conifers such as junipers and cypress. Each type has slightly different pruning requirements.

5. Know the purpose of pruning: Determine whether you want to remove dead or diseased branches, maintain shape, promote growth, or reduce size.

6. Locate the central leader: This is the main vertical stem that grows straight upward from the trunk. It should be preserved in most cases to maintain a strong tree structure.

7. Start with damaged or diseased limbs: Remove these branches first as they can spread disease or pest infestations to healthy parts of the tree.

8. Prune back overgrown branches: Cut back branches that have outgrown their desired size by cutting them back to a lateral branch or the trunk.

9. Maintain tree shape: Prune any branches that are disrupting the symmetrical shape of the tree, focusing on branches that stick out from the rest.

10. Encourage new growth: For needle-leaf conifers, pinch off new shoots (called candles) during late spring or early summer to promote bushy growth. For scale-leaf conifers, trim branch tips in spring to encourage branching.

11. Remove competing leaders: If there are multiple vertical stems vying for dominance, select one to be the main leader and remove the others.

12. Thin out crowded branches: Improve air circulation and light penetration by removing some of the inner branches, especially in dense areas.

13. Avoid excessive pruning: Do not remove more than a quarter of the tree’s living branches in a single pruning session, as this can harm its overall health.

14. Clean up and dispose of debris: Collect all cut branches and foliage for proper disposal to avoid pest infestations or spreading any diseases caught during pruning.

By following these 14 steps, you will be able to prune your conifers effectively and maintain their health, growth, and appearance. Regular pruning will also help extend the life of your trees, improve their resistance to pests and diseases, and make them more enjoyable for years to come.