Anyone who plants wormwood has taken good precautions when it comes to he alth problems in the digestive area. This herb is not only extremely bitter, but also extremely potent. But what about cutting?
When and how should wormwood be cut?
Wormwood should be harvested during the growing season until late summer and cut back heavily after the first harvest to encourage new growth. In spring, old shoots should be removed to 15 cm above the ground to stimulate new shoots in spring.
Cut to harvest
In order to harvest wormwood, its individual plant parts should not be plucked off, but cut off. Either smaller quantities are cut off again and again at the beginning of the growing season and until late summer, or larger quantities are cut off once or twice.
The harvested leaves, twigs and inflorescences can be used fresh or dried after harvest. Whether immediately or after drying, the wormwood is suitable for seasoning fatty dishes as well as for:
- Tea
- Ointments
- Tinctures
- Oils
- Bath additives
Cut to stimulate new growth
After you have harvested the wormwood generously for the first time (usually the top and side shoot tips in July), you should cut it back heavily. This pruning promotes new growth.
Cutting after autumn and winter
Another reason to cut wormwood is to remove old shoots from the previous year and to stimulate its budding in spring. It's best not to cut your wormwood in the fall. In a way, its shoots serve as protection against frost and snow.
Only in spring should you radically shorten the wormwood to 15 cm above the ground. Attention: Do not cut too deeply into the wood, otherwise the wormwood will not grow. To cut, you should use sharp and clean rose or wood scissors (€14.00 on Amazon).
Cutting: Not absolutely necessary
In principle, it is not necessarily necessary to cut the wormwood. However, tall growing varieties and specimens that are ailing or partially dead should be pruned heavily.
Tips & Tricks
Attention: Do not throw the cut wormwood shoots into the compost! The strong smell that emanates from it drives away creatures that live and work in the compost.
