MY THANKS TO LYNN FROM OREGON FOR SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE REPLY TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.

I AM PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH PRUNING, IN THAT I UNDERSTAND TRUE BAMBOO'S MAY BE PRUNED BACK TO SOIL LEVEL IN EARLY SPRING AND WILL RE-SHOOT NATURALLY. I AM SOMEWHAT CONCERNED THAT AS THE NANDINA IS NOT A TRUE BAMBOO (BEING MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE BERBERIS) SUCH 'HARD' PRUNING MAY CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE.

THE QUESTION THEREFORE IS - CAN I PRUNE A NANDINA BACK TO SOIL LEVEL AND, IF NOT, HOW SHOULD I PRUNE IT?