Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Chaste tree: when and how to prune
Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste tree is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | August–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Chaste tree: when to prune it?
In March to early April, as soon as the buds swell and you can see what is still alive.
What else to prune in those months? March
Chaste tree: how to prune it?
- First cut out dead branches and frost damage back to healthy, green wood.
- Cut the rest back hard, to 2–3 buds above the old wood, or to 30–50 cm above the ground.
- Remove weak and crossing branches completely.
- Do this every year: it flowers on new wood.
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.
- Chaste tree flowers in August–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- 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 prune in autumn, because young shoots are easily killed by frost then. Wait until March: the buds show which wood is still alive.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Chaste tree · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.