The firethorn is a popular solitary and hedge shrub that creates beautiful color accents in the garden in autumn with its bright red or orange-yellow fruits. Since the rose plant tends to grow sparingly, it needs regular pruning.
When and how should you cut the firethorn?
Firethorn should be pruned in February or March and again around June 24th. Adequate pruning promotes growth and flower formation. Remove long shoots, branches growing inside and shorten branches by a third. Be aware of breeding birds and weather conditions.
Rejuvenation cut for beautiful growth
Pruning promotes the plant's richly branched new growth. For this reason, young plants should be cut more often so that they develop into compact and shapely bushes. Since the firethorn is a very robust tree, it tolerates heavy pruning well and rewards your effort and care with beautiful growth and abundance of flowers.
The time for the thinning cut
You can make your 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 harvested all the fruit. When cutting back, remove all long shoots without branches as well as the branches growing inwards with sharp rose or pruning shears (€38.00 on Amazon). 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 topiary can be done in early summer
Around St. John's Day on June 24th, the firethorn takes a break in growth. Now is the right time for another cut. When pruning the firethorn in summer, be sure to look out for breeding birds that build their nests in the dense foliage and raise their young in the protection of the thorny branches. Also, 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 trim the hedge. You can make this shape cut with an electric or petrol-powered hedge trimmer. You can then cut back and thin out the bushes in the same way as a solitary firethorn planted.
Tips for the right cut
When cutting, place the scissors at a slight angle. This means that the water can drain away easily at the interface and the risk of infection with plant diseases is reduced. You shouldn't be too hesitant when cutting back, because only with sufficient pruning does the firethorn have the opportunity to develop strong and beautifully branched branches. As a rule of thumb, you can safely shorten about a third of the branch. Dry and bare branches are completely removed. Avoid pruning the trees during frost and sunny midday hours, as the exposed shoots could be damaged by the weather conditions.
