Photo: Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Bee-bee tree: when and how to prune
Tetradium daniellii
Bee-bee tree is best pruned in January–February.
| Pruning months | January–February |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Outside it |
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees, butterflies and birds |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Bee-bee tree: when to prune it?
Hardly necessary. Prune in January–February, in frost-free weather, while the tree is dormant.
Bee-bee tree: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
- Keep the crown open and light; do not remove too much at once.
- Heavy shortening causes many water shoots: remove whole branches rather than topping them.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: January–February.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- The pruning months fall outside the nesting season (15 March–15 August), so you won’t disturb nesting birds.
- Bee-bee tree flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Do not prune in summer: it flowers from July to September and you would remove the flowers.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Bee-bee tree · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.