Bell heather: when and how to prune

Bell heather: when to prune it?

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In March–April, before new growth starts.

What else to prune in those months? March · April

Bell heather: how to prune it?

1. Shear off the faded flower spikes with secateurs or shears, just below the old flowers.
2. Do not cut into bare old wood: it will not reshoot from there.
3. A light trim every year keeps the plant compact and stops the centre going bare.

How much to cut, and how often?

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

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in March–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.
• Bell heather flowers in June–September, 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Cornish heath (Erica vagans)
• Darley Dale heath (Erica × darleyensis)
• Dorset heath (Erica ciliaris)
• Cross-leaved heath
• Irish heath (Erica erigena)
• Tree heath

Plant profile: Bell heather · Pruning calendar and basic rules