Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei): when and how to prune

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei): when to prune it?

JFMAMJJASOND

In April, once the worst frosts are over. On variegated varieties, cut out green shoots as soon as you see them.

What else to prune in those months? April

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei): how to prune it?

1. Cut back overlong or straggly shoots to within the desired shape, just above a leaf.
2. A bare or untidy ground cover can be sheared back to 20–30 cm every few years; it soon grows back densely.
3. Against a wall: remove shoots that grow away from the wall or creep towards gutters, windows and roof tiles.
4. Remove dead twigs and any that have been browned by frost.

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.
• 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

• Hamilton’s spindle (Euonymus hamiltonianus)
• Japanese spindle
• Spindle
• Winged spindle
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush

Plant profile: Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) · Pruning calendar and basic rules