Aronia naturally grows well-branched and, like so many other berry bushes, it does not tend to overgrow. Therefore it hardly needs to be cut. Nevertheless, pruning can contribute to better branching, and pruning is essential if the aronia bushes are to grow together to form a dense hedge.
When and how do I cut my aronia?
Aronia bushes should be pruned in late fall or early winter. Young plants benefit from a build-up pruning in which closely spaced shoots are removed and the base shoot is shortened. Older bushes require rejuvenation pruning, in which the oldest main shoots are removed and individual basic shoots are shortened.
Aronia is best pruned in winter
Many flowering bushes should be pruned immediately after flowering. However, this is not possible with Aronia, after all it is a fruit-bearing shrub. For this reason, the best possible time is late autumn or early winter, when all the fruits have been harvested and the plant is no longer in sap.
Building cut for better branching
You can carry out a so-called build-up pruning immediately after planting the plant and in the first few years. This involves cutting out closely spaced shoots and shortening the base shoot. In this way, the shrub will branch out more and produce more side shoots. Young plants should be pruned so that they develop as many branches as possible and eventually develop a beautiful crown over time.
Rejuvenation pruning of older aronia bushes
If, on the other hand, your aronia bushes are getting a bit old, we recommend rejuvenating them. This is particularly useful if flowers no longer form within a very wide bush. When making a rejuvenation cut, you remove the oldest main shoots and shorten individual basic shoots. This pruning will encourage your bushes to grow again and produce more fruit.
How do I prune my aronia bush
How much you prune your shrub is entirely up to you. The aronia berry is very robust and doesn't mind even radical pruning. Fortunately, the plant does not tend to bleed. To make a cut, do the following:
- Put on gloves and sturdy clothing.
- Choose sharp rose scissors.
- Select the shoots to cut out.
- Make the cut above a bud.
- The cut is made at a slight angle.
- Remove shoots that cross or branch with each other.
- You should leave a leading shoot in the center of the bush.
- If necessary, just shorten the leading drive.
Such a cut should usually only be necessary every two to three years. In the meantime, feel free to leave your chokeberry to its own devices.
Tips & Tricks
It is best to cut the plants as soon as they are planted. Leave a middle shoot a little longer as the leading shoot and shorten the other shoots accordingly.