Monkey puzzle: when and how to prune

Monkey puzzle: when to prune it?

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In spring, remove the lowest dead branches.

What else to prune in those months? April · May

Monkey puzzle: how to prune it?

1. Saw dead branches off close to the trunk, without cutting into the trunk.
2. Don’t cut healthy branches to make it smaller: a branch that is sawn off won’t grow back, and a cut leader is never neatly replaced.
3. On a large tree, use a long-handled pruning saw, and stand beside the branch, not underneath it.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: April–May.
• Grows best when left alone. Only remove dead, diseased or awkward branches.
• Most conifers do not regrow from old, bare wood. So never cut back into the brown part (exception: yew).

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in April–May 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.
• Cutting back into bare brown wood: it will not regrow from there.
• Pruning too much: it grows best when left alone.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Leyland cypress
• Thuja
• Black pine
• Colorado blue spruce
• Lawson cypress
• Northern white cedar

Plant profile: Monkey puzzle · Pruning calendar and basic rules