Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Fragrant sumac: when and how to prune
Rhus aromatica
Fragrant sumac is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | April |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Fragrant sumac: when to prune it?
It needs hardly any pruning. Do a tidy-up in late February–March, before it comes into leaf.
What else to prune in those months? March
Fragrant sumac: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches.
- Every few years cut out the oldest stems at the base to renew the shrub.
- If it has spread too wide, trim it back along the edge or cut off the suckers.
- For a thorough renewal you can cut it back to near the ground in March; it will regrow from the base.
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.
- Fragrant sumac flowers in 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 in autumn: you would lose the autumn colour and the young shoots could be killed by frost.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Fragrant sumac · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.