Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Coronilla: when and how to prune
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca
Coronilla is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | February–May |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Coronilla: when to prune it?
After the main flush of flowers, in June, with a light shaping trim.
What else to prune in those months? June
Coronilla: how to prune it?
- Cut the flowered shoots back by up to a third to keep the shrub compact.
- At the same time, remove any dead or frost-damaged twigs.
- Do not cut into old, bare wood: it resprouts poorly from there.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: June.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Coronilla flowers in February–May, 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: Do not prune in autumn: the young shoots that grow afterwards are killed by winter frost.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.