The gold thread cypress is called a scale-leaf evergreen because its foliage consists of flattened, threadlike needles that wrap around the thin branches like delicate scales. It's best to prune this shrub early in spring, just before new growth appears. This allows new growth to cover pruning scars quickly, avoiding the appearance of cut stubs, and also gives the plant a full season to recover from the shock of pruning. You can do additional fine-tuning of the plant's shape later, in May, June or July, while the plant is still actively growing. Avoid cutting the shrub back in late summer or fall, because tender new growth might be damaged by winter cold.

Pruning Method

The gold thread cypress has no dormant buds that can produce new growth on older, leafless branches, like most evergreens of this type. Because of this, never cut off all branches that have foliage, because this can kill the plant. If the plant is too large overall, prune about one-third to two-thirds of its branches the first year, and repeat this during the next year or two, giving the plant time to recover and put out new stems. Cut each branch back to a strong lateral branch or shoot, choosing a length that approximates the final desired size of the shrub. Make sure all cuts are made at a point where there's still green foliage and visible buds, and prevent spread of plant disease by wiping your pruning blades with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol between cuts.

After you've started pruning a gold thread cypress, you may need to also make training cuts once new growth appears, to help the plant develop the desired shape. As new lateral branches form, trim back any that are overly long and thin, to promote more branching and bushiness. Help the plant fill in any open spaces by trimming shoots just ahead of a lateral bud that faces toward the open area -- new side shoots should help fill in these empty spots.

Keeping a freshly pruned plant well watered helps support healthy new growth -- during dry spells, provide supplemental water, aiming for about 1 inch per week, including rain. Mulching under the plant with a 4- to 6-inch-thick layer of straw or shredded bark also helps conserve soil moisture The gold thread cypress is frost-hardy and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7, so it can encounter winter storms and snow in colder parts of its range. Clearing newly fallen snow from between tender new branches helps keep new growth in good condition, as does protecting the plant from wind damage by surrounding it with a burlap screen attached to poles hammered into the ground.

Here are some alternative suggestions:

Coniferous evergreen shrubs exist and are oftentimes used to fill in low, empty spaces of the landscape. They also make excellent backdrops for many of the flowering shrubs. A couple favorites include:

Juniper – Of the most common needle-leafed varieties is juniper. This sprawling evergreen has attractive blue-gray foliage. It is relatively drought tolerant and a good choice for these conditions. The low-growing variety also makes an ideal ground cover for naturalized areas of the landscape.

Yew – Yew is also quite popular. This evergreen shrub is extremely versatile, performing well in a number of growing conditions. Yew shrubs have an upright growth habit and are, for the most part, slow growing. As these shrubs are excellent pruning specimens, they are suitable for growing as hedges.

Broadleaf evergreens

Not all evergreen bushes need be needle-like. These leafy evergreen shrubs for landscaping are also attractive choices:

Boxwood – What landscape setting hasn’t had its share of boxwood plantings? This slow-growing evergreen shrub has small leaves and dense growth. It adapts easily to a variety of conditions in either sun or part shade. However, boxwood generally prefers moist, but well-draining, fertile soil. Boxwood shrubs can be grown as a formal or informal hedge or as foundation plant.

Holly – Holly is another commonly planted evergreen shrub. The English variety (I. aquifolium) is a popular holiday attraction, easily recognized by its glossy, dark green, spiny-edged foliage and bright red berries (found on female plants). The Chinese holly (I. cornuta) can produce without males, however, and berry color may be orange-red or yellow. There is also a Japanese species (I. crenata), which produces oval leaves and black berries. Hollies are excellent for mixed borders, foundation plantings, and hedges.

Euonymus – Evergreen euonymus has waxy, dark green foliage year round. While hardly ever noticed, this particular shrub produces faint white flowers in early summer. By fall, the plant is covered with attractive orange-pink berries. Euonymus shrubs make effective screening or specimen plantings in the landscape.

Photinia – Another common evergreen shrub is the red-tip photinia. Oftentimes planted as a hedge, the young spring foliage appears reddish in color but matures into a deep green flushed with red tips. It also produces red berries that turn black.

Firethorn – Firethorn is a small-leaf evergreen shrub with slow growth and bright berries. These shrubs make excellent low-growing cover in suitable areas of the landscape and can also be used as foundation plantings.

Flowering evergreen shrubs

There are numerous flowering evergreen shrub varieties too. Here are just a few:

Azalea/Rhododendron – The evergreen azaleas and rhododendrons are probably the most common. The majority of these bloom in spring in various shades, depending on the species. They enjoy lightly shaded areas and acidic soil, and look great planted in borders in groups or as specimens. It should be noted that in some of the cooler regions, these evergreens may lose some of their foliage.

Gardenia – Gardenia is another popular flowering evergreen shrub, thriving year round in southernmost regions. They have leathery, dark green leaves and stunning white blooms in summer that are highly fragrant. Gardenias are commonly used as foundation plantings or placed in shade borders and gardens.

Camellia – Another common evergreen shrub variety is the camellia [18]. With its glossy, pointed leaves and beautiful single to semi-double flowers, growing a camellia in the landscape is a must. This spring bloomer thrives in shade to part shade and tolerates a range of soil conditions, as long as it remains well draining.

Here are some other links to checkout:

https://www.gardendesign.com/shrubs/evergreen.html

https://www.thespruce.com/small-evergreen-shrubs-a-colorful-list-2132754

 Hope this helps!