Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus): when and how to prune
Rhamnus alaternus
Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | March–April |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and birds |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus): when to prune it?
In June, once the spring growth is finished and late night frosts are over.
What else to prune in those months? June
Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus): how to prune it?
- Shorten the shoots to the shape you want, always just above a leaf or side shoot.
- Trim a hedge with shears or a hedge trimmer, slightly narrower at the top than at the base so light reaches the bottom.
- Remove dead, damaged and frosted branches. After frost damage, wait until new shoots appear in May.
- Renovate an overgrown shrub in stages over two years, not all at once.
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.
- Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) flowers in March–April, when it attracts bees.
- 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 late in the season: late shoots do not harden off and are easily killed by winter frost. Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) is poisonous: wear gloves and keep clippings away from children, pets and livestock.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.