Arizona cypress: when and how to prune

Arizona cypress: when to prune it?

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In April, lightly, before or just as new growth begins.

What else to prune in those months? April

Arizona cypress: how to prune it?

1. Trim only the young green shoots: one light formative trim a year is enough.
2. Remove dead or damaged branches to keep the plant airy.
3. Take out broken tops; on a specimen, reduce a double leader to one.
4. For a hedge, trim the new growth each year, slightly narrower at the top than at the base.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: April.
• Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.

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.
• 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Monterey cypress
• Italian cypress
• Fig tree
• Holly
• Olive tree
• Peach tree

Plant profile: Arizona cypress · Pruning calendar and basic rules