Creeping juniper: when and how to prune

Creeping juniper: when to prune it?

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Hardly needed. If necessary, prune lightly in May, as new growth begins.

What else to prune in those months? May

Creeping juniper: how to prune it?

1. Cut overlong branches back to beneath another branch so the cut stays hidden.
2. Only cut into green, scaly wood.
3. Remove dead, brown branches completely, back to healthy wood.
4. If it gets too wide, trim a little every year rather than a lot at once.

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
• Flaky juniper (Juniperus squamata)
• Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens)
• Ornamental juniper
• Savin juniper
• Chinese juniper

Plant profile: Creeping juniper · Pruning calendar and basic rules