Sawara cypress: when and how to prune

Sawara cypress: when to prune it?

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Little needed. If necessary, trim lightly in May–June, in the young green growth.

What else to prune in those months? May · June

Sawara cypress: how to prune it?

1. Shorten only the young, green shoot tips a little to keep the shape or density.
2. Remove dead, dry and damaged sprays.
3. Remove shoots of a different colour or habit.
4. On soft, thread-like cultivars keep the natural, loose shape.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: May–June.
• Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in May–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.
• 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

• Hinoki cypress
• Lawson cypress
• Almond tree
• Apricot tree
• Beech
• Cherry tree

Plant profile: Sawara cypress · Pruning calendar and basic rules