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Pruning guide · Shrub
Silk tassel: when and how to prune
Garrya elliptica
Silk tassel is best pruned in March–April.
| Pruning months | March–April |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March–April |
| Flowering | January–March |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Silk tassel: when to prune it?
After flowering, in March–April.
Silk tassel: how to prune it?
- Remove the faded catkins when they start to look untidy.
- Cut back over-long or awkward branches to just above a leaf or side shoot.
- On a wall shrub: trim shoots growing away from the wall.
- Rejuvenate an old shrub over two or three years by removing a few old branches low down each time.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March–April.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in March–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.
Caution: Do not prune after June: next winter’s catkins form in summer.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Silk tassel · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.