Spike winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata): when and how to prune

Spike winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata): when to prune it?

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Little is needed. If necessary, prune in April, straight after flowering.

What else to prune in those months? April

Spike winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata): how to prune it?

1. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
2. On an old, congested shrub, take out a few of the oldest stems at the base every few years.
3. Do not shorten all the branches: it would lose its graceful shape and next year’s flowers.

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.
• Spike winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata) flowers in March–April, when it attracts bees.
• If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
• 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

• Buttercup winter hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora)
• Winter hazel
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac
• Camellia

Plant profile: Spike winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata) · Pruning calendar and basic rules