Tree germander: when and how to prune

Tree germander: when to prune it?

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In April, when the risk of frost is over and new shoots start to grow.

What else to prune in those months? April

Tree germander: how to prune it?

1. Trim the plant or hedge lightly, about a third of the young shoots.
2. Cut dead and frost-damaged branches back to healthy wood, which is often only clearly visible in May.
3. Keep the base slightly wider than the top so light reaches the bottom.
4. An old, bare plant can be renewed by cutting a little harder for a few years in a row.

How much to cut, and how often?

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

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in 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.
• Tree germander flowers in May–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

• Wall germander
• Caucasian germander
• Wood sage
• Bluebeard
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac

Plant profile: Tree germander · Pruning calendar and basic rules