Photo: Rasbak at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrubby conifer
Common juniper: when and how to prune
Juniperus communis
Common juniper is best pruned in May–June.
| Pruning months | May–June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in May–June |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for birds |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Common juniper: when to prune it?
Light shaping in May–June.
Common juniper: how to prune it?
- Trim lightly: just the tips of the young shoots, to keep the shrub dense and in shape.
- Remove dead branches back to a healthy green side shoot.
- Preferably let a free-standing juniper grow as it likes: its natural shape is the most beautiful.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: May–June.
- Grows best when left alone. Only remove dead, diseased or awkward branches.
- Most conifers do not regrow from old, bare wood. So never cut back into the brown part (exception: yew).
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in May–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.
- In September–November birds eat the fruit: leave some on the plant or on the ground.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
- 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.
- Cutting back into bare brown wood: it will not regrow from there.
- Pruning too much: it grows best when left alone.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Never cut into bare wood, because no new shoots will grow from it.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Similar to: Difference from ornamental juniper
Plant profile: Common juniper · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.