Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium): when and how to prune

Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium): when to prune it?

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In April, once the worst frosts are over and you can see which parts have survived the winter.

What else to prune in those months? April

Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium): how to prune it?

1. Cut frosted parts back to healthy wood.
2. Keep it in shape or clip it as a hedge; it takes clipping well.
3. On variegated varieties, remove shoots with all-green leaves.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: April.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in April 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira)
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac
• Camellia
• Cornelian cherry

Plant profile: Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium) · Pruning calendar and basic rules