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Pruning guide · Tree
Loquat: when and how to prune
Eriobotrya japonica
Loquat is best pruned in April and June.
| Pruning months | April and June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in April and June |
| Flowering | October–December |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Loquat: when to prune it?
Little needed. Prune in April, after the hardest frosts; if it is carrying fruit, only after the harvest in June.
Loquat: how to prune it?
- Cut frost-damaged and browned shoots back to healthy wood.
- Remove dead, crossing and overcrowded branches to let light into the crown.
- Shorten over-long branches to just above a leaf or side branch to keep it compact.
- Against a wall, tie in the strongest branches as a fan and remove anything growing forwards.
How much to cut, and how often?
- There are 2 pruning periods a year: April and June. You don’t have to prune in every one.
- 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 April and 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.
- Loquat flowers in October–December, 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: Do not prune after June: the flowers appear in autumn at the tips of this year’s shoots.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.