Himalayan indigo: when and how to prune

Himalayan indigo: when to prune it?

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In April, when you can see which branches are sprouting. It flowers on new wood, so pruning costs no flowers.

What else to prune in those months? April

Himalayan indigo: how to prune it?

1. Cut frosted and dead branches back to the first healthy bud or to the base.
2. Each year, remove a few of the oldest, weakest branches at the base.
3. If it was killed to the ground in winter, cut everything short; it will regrow from the base.
4. For a more compact shrub, cut all branches back to 30–50 cm in April.

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.
• Himalayan indigo flowers in June–September, 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

• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac
• Camellia
• Cornelian cherry
• Cotoneaster

Plant profile: Himalayan indigo · Pruning calendar and basic rules