Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Large fothergilla: when and how to prune
Fothergilla major
Large fothergilla is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | April–May |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Large fothergilla: when to prune it?
Hardly needed. If necessary, prune straight after flowering, in June.
What else to prune in those months? June
Large fothergilla: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
- Cut an overlong branch back to a side branch or to the base.
- Renovate an old shrub gradually by taking out one of the oldest stems at the base every few years.
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.
- Large fothergilla flowers in April–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: It flowers on last year’s wood: do not prune in winter or early spring, or the flower buds will be lost.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Large fothergilla · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.