Photo: VoDeTan2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Thunberg’s bush clover: when and how to prune
Lespedeza thunbergii
Thunberg’s bush clover is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | August–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Thunberg’s bush clover: when to prune it?
In March, before the new shoots start to grow.
What else to prune in those months? March
Thunberg’s bush clover: how to prune it?
- Cut all stems back to 5–10 cm above the ground, just above a few buds, as you would a perennial.
- Remove all dead stems completely.
- Leave the faded clusters in autumn and winter as winter decoration; they also protect the base.
- Put the clippings on the compost heap or chop them up and use them as mulch.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Thunberg’s bush clover flowers in August–October, 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: It flowers on new wood: hard pruning in spring costs no flowers, pruning in summer does. Do not cut back early in winter, as the dead stems protect the plant.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Thunberg’s bush clover · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.