Photo: M a n u e l from Valdemoro, Spain, CC BY 2.0 · source
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Pruning guide · Shrub
Wintersweet: when and how to prune
Chimonanthus praecox
Wintersweet is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | December–February |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
Wintersweet: when to prune it?
After flowering, in March.
What else to prune in those months? March
Wintersweet: how to prune it?
- Little needed: after flowering, cut a few old branches back low down. It flowers on last year’s wood.
- Against a wall: shorten the side shoots that have flowered to 2–3 buds.
- Remove dead, crossing or overlong branches.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
- Grows best when left alone. Only remove dead, diseased or awkward branches.
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.
- 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.
- Pruning too much: it grows best when left alone.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Do not prune in summer or autumn: you would remove the wood on which it flowers the following winter. Wintersweet is poisonous: wear gloves and keep clippings away from children, pets and livestock.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Similar to: Difference from witch hazel
Plant profile: Wintersweet · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.