The right time to prune my shrubs

At the latest when our privet overgrows the path and the thuja hedge barely lets a person with a shopping bag through, we #Beetschwestern start thinking about the next hedge cut. And now that many shrubs are "naked", we are tempted to give them a decent haircut. However, it is important to bear in mind that different shrubs should ideally be pruned at different times. There are also a number of factors to consider, such as nature conservation and the flowering time of my shrubs. The most suitable pruning time depends on these factors.

In Germany and Austria, it is forbidden to radically cut back or remove hedges and shrubs between March 1 and September 30. Light pruning is permitted, unless birds are breeding in the shrubbery, in which case the shrub must be left alone. In view of the massive decline in our bird populations, this is an important protective measure that unfortunately is still not really taken seriously or adhered to by many people. In addition to the Nature Conservation Act, we must also pay attention to which shrub we are dealing with.

In our opinion, pruning should always emphasize the natural growth form of the shrub. Unless we form a privacy hedge with the shrubs.

The best time varies depending on the type of shrub

What blooms early in the year

Early-flowering plants such as forsythia, rock pear, early-flowering snowball and honeysuckle varieties are pruned after flowering.

Roses and hydrangeas

We prune roses and hydrangeas in spring when the forsythia are in bloom.

Rambler roses, wild roses and historic roses hardly need any pruning. Our Trigintipetala - the most beguiling of the fragrant roses and an old, once-flowering variety - feels so at home in its location that it has grown to such an incredible size that we have to keep it in check. But not too late in the year, otherwise it will fail to flower the following year!

Berry bushes

Berry bushes are rejuvenated, i.e. older shoots (4 years +) are removed close to the ground. The pruning time for raspberries depends on whether they are double-bearing. These are only pruned in March, the single-bearing ones close to the ground immediately after harvesting.

Deciduous hedges

Deciduous hedges are pruned once or twice a year to maintain their density and achieve rejuvenation.

Wild shrubs

In principle, wild shrubs do not need pruning; these include peony, blackthorn, hawthorn, cornelian cherry, elderberry, common viburnum, rowan and many more.

Evergreen shrubs

Evergreen shrubs such as rhododendrons, boxwood, yews and thujas tolerate heavy pruning in March well. Some advise a second pruning in the fall so that they retain their shape as a hedge. Rhododendrons, cherry laurel and boxwood rarely need pruning unless they are trained to form a hedge.

The following ornamental shrubs require annual pruning

These shrubs are usually susceptible to frost and generally require annual pruning, which is not absolutely necessary for other shrubs:

• Beard flowers(Caryopteris)
• Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
• some species of St. John's wort (Hypericum)
• Lavender
• Hydrangeas (Hydrangea)
• Silver bush (Perovskia)

Tip: Common pruning mistakes with shrubs

You can recognize successful pruning by the fact that the normal growth form of the shrub is retained and does not catch the eye due to its unnaturalness. Poor pruning completely ignores the growth form of a shrub, such as the cubes and bobbleheads known as "janitor's pruning". In this case, every shrub is transformed into a topiary with hedge shears. As a result, however, each shrub loses its natural appearance and reacts with unsightly growth, greatly reduced flowering and fruiting and broom-like shoots the following year.

Can I prune my shrubs in winter?

Yes, especially summer and autumn-flowering shrubs and evergreen hedges can also be pruned in winter, provided there is NO frost forecast. This can lead to frost damage to the plants. Shrubs that have not been pruned for a long time can also be rejuvenated in winter. Radical pruning (which, in our opinion, is only very rarely necessary) may only be carried out from October 1 to February 28 by law. Even then, only prune on frost-free days!

We #Beetschwestern advocate careful, thoughtful pruning with shears (except for hedges), taking your time, always looking at the shrub from a certain distance and always taking into account the wonderful natural growth form.