Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Hairy greenweed: when and how to prune
Genista pilosa
Hairy greenweed is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | May–June |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Hairy greenweed: when to prune it?
Straight after flowering, in June, if needed. It rarely needs pruning.
What else to prune in those months? June
Hairy greenweed: how to prune it?
- Lightly shorten the flowering shoots, by about a third, to keep the plant compact and dense.
- Remove dead or damaged stems back to just above a healthy shoot.
- Never cut into old, bare wood: broom and its relatives rarely shoot again from it.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: June.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in 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.
- Hairy greenweed flowers in May–June, when it attracts bees.
- If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
- 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.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Do not cut into bare wood: it rarely shoots again from it.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Hairy greenweed · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.