Photo: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Canary Island pine: when and how to prune
Pinus canariensis
Canary Island pine is best pruned in May.
| Pruning months | May |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in May |
| Flowering | April–May |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Canary Island pine: when to prune it?
Little needed. To keep it compact, shorten the new shoots (the ‘candles’) in May.
What else to prune in those months? May
Canary Island pine: how to prune it?
- In May, cut or snap the young, still soft candles back by half to two thirds: the plant stays more compact and branches better.
- Remove dead or brown branches back to healthy wood with needles.
- On a young plant, keep the leading shoot, or it will lose its shape.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: May.
- 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 May 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.
Caution: Do not cut into bare wood without needles: in a pot it rarely regrows from there, even though an old tree in the wild can do so after a fire.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Canary Island pine · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.