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Pruning guide · Shrub
Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana): when and how to prune
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | May |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana): when to prune it?
Pruning is hardly needed. If you do prune, do it in June, straight after flowering.
What else to prune in those months? June
Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana): how to prune it?
- Cut out dead, frosted or damaged stems back to healthy wood.
- Every few years, remove a few of the oldest, bare stems right at the base: new, richly coloured shoots will come from the base.
- A neglected shrub can be renewed by cutting all stems back to 20–30 cm; it then regrows from the base.
- Cutting stems for a vase or a Christmas arrangement is a light prune in itself.
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.
- 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: Wear gloves when pruning: all parts of the plant are poisonous. Do not throw prunings into a field with livestock.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.