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Pruning guide · Tree
Italian cypress: when and how to prune
Cupressus sempervirens
Italian cypress is best pruned in May–August.
| Pruning months | May–August |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in May–August |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Italian cypress: when to prune it?
Pruning is hardly needed. To keep it slimmer or neater, trim lightly between May and August, not late in autumn.
What else to prune in those months? May · June · July · August
Italian cypress: how to prune it?
- Lightly shorten twigs that stick out, only in the green, scaly part of the branches.
- Tie splaying branches back against the column instead of sawing them off.
- Remove brown or dead branches back to healthy wood.
- If you plant a row as a hedge, trim a little every year rather than a lot every few years.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: May–August.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in May–August 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: Never cut into bare, brown wood without green: a cypress will not regrow from it and the bare patch stays visible.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Italian cypress · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.