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Pruning guide · Shrub
Butcher’s broom: when and how to prune
Ruscus aculeatus
Butcher’s broom is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Butcher’s broom: when to prune it?
In March, before the new shoots appear. It hardly needs pruning.
What else to prune in those months? March
Butcher’s broom: how to prune it?
- Cut dead, yellowed or damaged stems right back to the base.
- Every few years, take out a few of the oldest stems to give new shoots room.
- To keep it lower or narrower, cut the outer stems off at ground level.
- Wear gloves and long sleeves: the spines are sharp.
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.
- 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: Always cut at the base; stems cut halfway do not regrow. Butcher’s broom is poisonous: wear gloves and keep clippings away from children, pets and livestock.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Butcher’s broom · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.