Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis): when and how to prune

Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis): when to prune it?

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Hardly needed. If necessary, prune after flowering, in April, before the leaves are fully out.

What else to prune in those months? April

Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis): how to prune it?

1. Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
2. Cut overlong branches back to a side branch to keep the natural shape.
3. Remove suckers that come up outside the clump.
4. In winter you can safely cut a few flowering sprigs for a vase.

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.
• Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) flowers in January–March, 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Witch hazel
• Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
• Japanese witch hazel (Hamamelis japonica)
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac

Plant profile: Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) · Pruning calendar and basic rules