Photo: Jeffdelonge at French Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Dyer’s greenweed: when and how to prune
Genista tinctoria
Dyer’s greenweed is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | June–August |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Dyer’s greenweed: when to prune it?
In late March, before the new shoots start. It needs little pruning.
What else to prune in those months? March
Dyer’s greenweed: how to prune it?
- Lightly shorten last year’s shoots, by about a third, to keep the plant compact and full.
- Remove dead or frost-damaged stems back to just above a healthy bud.
- Never cut into old, bare wood: it usually does not shoot again from it.
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.
- Dyer’s greenweed flowers in June–August, when it attracts bees.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
- 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: Never cut into bare wood: it often does not shoot again from it.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Dyer’s greenweed · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.