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Pruning guide · Shrub
Strawberry tree: when and how to prune
Arbutus unedo
Strawberry tree is best pruned in April.
| Pruning months | April |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in April |
| Flowering | October–December |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Strawberry tree: when to prune it?
Pruning is rarely needed. If it is, do it in April, once the worst frosts are over.
What else to prune in those months? April
Strawberry tree: how to prune it?
- Cut frost-damaged and dead twigs back to healthy wood.
- Remove branches that cross or grow inwards.
- To show off the beautiful trunk, gradually remove the lower branches and create a multi-stemmed small tree.
- Hard renovation pruning is usually tolerated well, but you then lose a year of flowers and fruit.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: April.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in April can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Strawberry tree flowers in October–December, when it attracts bees.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Flowers and young fruits hang on the shrub at the same time, so every pruning cut costs you both. Prune as little as possible.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Strawberry tree · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.