Phoenician juniper: when and how to prune

Phoenician juniper: when to prune it?

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Rarely needed. Light shaping in April, once the hardest frosts are over.

What else to prune in those months? April

Phoenician juniper: how to prune it?

1. Cut only into the green, scaly part of the twigs.
2. Remove dead and brown twigs, back to healthy green growth or to the trunk.
3. For a narrower shape, shorten protruding twigs one by one rather than shearing the whole outside at once.
4. Wear gloves: the foliage and resin can irritate the skin.

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

• Common juniper
• Ornamental juniper
• Spanish juniper
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac
• Camellia

Plant profile: Phoenician juniper · Pruning calendar and basic rules