Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens): when and how to prune

Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens): when to prune it?

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It hardly needs pruning; trim in May where necessary.

What else to prune in those months? May

Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens): how to prune it?

1. Cut branches that spread too far or hang over the path back to a side shoot.
2. Remove dead or damaged branches completely, back to living wood.
3. If there are brown or dead needles, gently comb them out with your fingers or a rake.
4. Wear gloves: the needles are prickly and can irritate sensitive skin.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: May.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in May 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Common juniper
• Creeping juniper
• Flaky juniper (Juniperus squamata)
• Ornamental juniper
• Savin juniper
• Chinese juniper

Plant profile: Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) · Pruning calendar and basic rules