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Pruning guide · Fruit plant
Pawpaw: when and how to prune
Asimina triloba
Pawpaw is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | April–May |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Pawpaw: when to prune it?
It needs little pruning. Do it in March, before the buds break.
What else to prune in those months? March
Pawpaw: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
- If you want a single trunk, cut away the root suckers around the base.
- Keep the natural pyramid shape: the fruits form on last year’s shoots.
- Trees that grow too tall can be shortened slightly to keep the fruit within reach.
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: Do not prune too hard: you would remove the flower buds, which are already on last year’s shoots.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.