By regularly cutting the Japanese spindle bush, you can achieve even and dense growth. This is particularly recommended when planting a hedge as a privacy screen. However, you should pay attention to the applicable legal regulations.
How do I prune a Japanese spindle bush correctly?
To properly prune the Japanese spindle bush, first remove diseased and injured branches and avoid crossing branches. Use sharp tools to prevent bruising. Topiary pruning and hedge trimming are ideally carried out in spring and autumn, slight corrections are possible in summer.
How do you prune the Japanese spindle bush correctly?
The Japanese spindle bush is relatively easy to prune, even for beginners, because it doesn't take offense to mistakes straight away. However, remember that all parts of the spindle bush are poisonous. First, cut off all injured and diseased branches. Then cut back one of each crossing branch so that no chafe marks form there. They are entry points for pathogens.
All other cutting measures are purely optical in nature. Depending on your preference, you decide what shape you want to give your Japanese spindle bush. However, be sure to use sharp tools (€14.00 on Amazon) to avoid squashing the branches. Prune in spring to prevent the spindle bush from becoming too bare in winter.
Hedging the Japanese spindle bush
A trapezoidal cut makes sense for hedges; it prevents the bushes from becoming bald. The hedge is then about 10 – 20 cm narrower at the top than at its base. Of course, you can also opt for a less strict form. During the summer months only small corrective cuts may be made. The essential topiary is done in spring and autumn.
Cut cuttings
Perhaps you would like to propagate your spindle bushes. You can cut cuttings practically at any time, ideally you do this during topiary or in midsummer. Find a few shoots that are already woody and shorten them to a length of around 15 - 20 cm. Remove the lower leaves before placing the cuttings in potting soil.
The most important cutting tips:
- only use really sharp tools
- Avoid crushing the branches
- remove sick and injured branches
- Avoid crossing branches
- When cutting topiary, cut cuttings straight away
- Only carry out light corrective cuts on the hedge in summer
- pay attention to legal regulations when trimming hedges
Tip
Regular pruning will encourage your Japanese spindle bush to grow particularly densely.
