Taper cut for beautiful growth
The pruning promotes the richly branched new growth of the plant. For this reason, young plants should be cut more frequently so that they develop into compact and shapely bushes. Since the firethorn is a very robust wood, it can withstand a strong pruning and rewards your effort and care with beautiful growth and abundance of flowers.
also read
- Proper care of the firethorn
- The growth of the firethorn
- The multiplication of the firethorn
The time for the clearing cut
You can make a first cut of the firethorn in February or March. By this time, birds, for whom the shrub's bright berries are a welcome treat in the cold season, have picked all the fruit. When pruning, remove all long shoots without branches and the branches that are growing inward with sharp rose or loppers. The cut is always made just above the eye. This is the slightly thickened part of the branch from which a new shoot will later grow.
Another shape cut can be made in early summer
The firethorn pauses in growth around St. John's Day on June 24th. Now is the right time to make another cut. During the summer pruning of the firethorn, be sure to watch out for breeding birds, which build their nests in the dense foliage and raise their young under the protection of the thorn-reinforced branches. In addition, do not remove too many flower umbels, otherwise hardly any fruit will form in autumn. If you have planted a firethorn hedge, now is the right time to cut the hedge. You can make this shape cut with the electric or gasoline-powered hedge trimmer (€ 135.56 at Amazon *). You can then cut back and thin out the bushes just like a solitary firethorn.
Tips for the right cut
When cutting, use the scissors with a slightly inclined course. This allows the water to run off easily at the interface and the risk of infection for plant diseases is lower. When pruning, you shouldn't be too hesitant, because the firethorn is only able to develop strong and nicely branched branches with sufficient pruning. As a rule of thumb, you can trim around a third of the branch without worrying. Drought and bare branches are completely removed. Avoid pruning during frost and during the sunny noon hours, as the exposed shoots could be damaged by the weather conditions.
