Shorten spruce (4)
I believe the answer is:
trim
I believe this is a double definition.
'shorten' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'spruce' is the second definition.
('trim' can be a synonym of 'spruce')
(Other definitions for trim that I've seen before include "To change views expediently" , "Svelte" , "Spick and span" , "Neat and orderly" , "Make neat; slim and fit" .)