Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Shrubby cinquefoil: when and how to prune
Dasiphora fruticosa
Shrubby cinquefoil is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | June–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Shrubby cinquefoil: when to prune it?
In March, before new growth starts. It flowers on this year’s wood, so pruning in spring costs no flowers.
What else to prune in those months? March
Shrubby cinquefoil: how to prune it?
- Cut back about a third of the stems, or shorten the whole shrub by a third to keep it compact.
- Every year, remove a few of the oldest, grey stems at the base so the shrub stays young.
- Take out dead and weak twigs from the centre.
- Renovate a neglected shrub over two to three years by removing some of the oldest stems at ground level each time.
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.
- Shrubby cinquefoil flowers in June–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- 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 just shear the outer layer with hedge trimmers: also remove old stems, or the shrub becomes bare and woody inside.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Shrubby cinquefoil · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.