Dewberry: when and how to prune

Dewberry: when to prune it?

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Late February to March, before the new shoots start and before the nesting season.

What else to prune in those months? February · March

Dewberry: how to prune it?

1. Cut old, dead stems that have already fruited at the base.
2. Shorten stems that are too long, so the patch does not spread further than you want.
3. Every few years you can cut a section right down: it soon regrows.
4. Do not prune from April to July, when birds may be nesting in it.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: February–March.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
• 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

• Blackberry
• Raspberry
• Japanese wineberry
• Salmonberry
• Alder buckthorn
• Blackcurrant

Plant profile: Dewberry · Pruning calendar and basic rules