Photo: Blaine Hansel, CC BY 2.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Siberian peashrub: when and how to prune
Caragana arborescens
Siberian peashrub is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | May |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Siberian peashrub: when to prune it?
After flowering, in June. It needs little pruning.
What else to prune in those months? June
Siberian peashrub: how to prune it?
- Shorten overlong shoots to just above a side shoot to keep the shape.
- Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
- Clip a hedge or windbreak to shape, with the base slightly wider than the top.
- Rejuvenate an old, bare shrub by cutting a few old stems back low; it reshoots well.
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.
- Siberian peashrub flowers in 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: Prune a weeping form only lightly and do not cut all the hanging shoots to the same length, or it will lose its natural shape.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Siberian peashrub · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.