Light pruning can be done all year around. However, heavy pruning - where you cut the branches should be done in the winter (Dec - Feb) as it is much easier to see their true structural shape when all their leaves have fallen off so that the branches can be cut right back to give the tree better balance.
The Silk tree is an exception and should be pruned in the spring as pruning it when its shedding leaves can cause severe dieback.
Happy Pruning!
The answer is that most trees and shrubs can be chopped at any time of the year in the Middle East without much worry. Conocarpus need to be kept on top of as they can suddenly grow at rapid rates.
Try looking for books by Elizabeth Shaheen on bush trimming in the ME.
When is it a good time to prune trees and shrubs?
Most of the trees and shrubs in my garden are quite overgrown as they haven't been properly looked after by previous tenant. I am now trying to teach my gardener how to prune, but am unsure of when to do it as the seasons here are different to Europe.
I don't want to cause any damage but cutting off too much at the wrong time. I am also unsure whether to get rid of the conocarpus trees or to just have them trimmed. They are getting very tall and something needs to be done but they create quite a bit of shade and privacy from my neighbours.