Photo: Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Japanese snowbell: when and how to prune
Styrax japonicus
Japanese snowbell is best pruned in July.
| Pruning months | July |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in July |
| Flowering | May–June |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Japanese snowbell: when to prune it?
It needs little pruning. Do any necessary work after flowering, in July.
What else to prune in those months? July
Japanese snowbell: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
- On a young tree, gradually remove a few low branches if you want a clear trunk, but keep the natural layered shape.
- Cut out water shoots and suckers at the base.
- Never prune hard: the graceful shape is slow to recover.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: July.
- 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 July can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Japanese snowbell flowers in May–June, 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: Prune as little as possible and not in winter or spring: every branch you remove then costs flowers.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Japanese snowbell · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.