The non-toxic finger or five-finger bush is considered very easy to care for and does not necessarily need to be pruned regularly. Nevertheless, it's worth using garden scissors or a knife for this plant, and it's even necessary from time to time.
How do I cut a finger bush correctly?
Answer: Prune your crabgrass in fall or spring for shaping and growth stimulation. Remove dead or injured shoots immediately. Radical cuts are possible every 2 to 3 years to prevent baldness or aging. Cuttings can be cut in autumn or winter.
Should I also prune a finger bush as a ground cover?
If you have planted a crab bush as a ground cover, you will definitely want the plant to spread widely. At first glance, cutting back seems to be counterproductive. But appearances are deceptive, because by cutting you encourage the finger bush to grow more and more densely. This improves the appearance and at the same time ensures more lush flowers.
When should I prune my crab bush?
In some situations, pruning your crab bush is virtually unavoidable if you want the bush to remain he althy and in good shape. A slight pruning in late summer or autumn is primarily intended for shaping. For a hedge made of finger bushes, (additional) pruning in spring may make sense.
You can cut off diseased or dried shoots at any time, as close to the base as possible. This is usually the first step in the annual pruning. However, if there is a pest infestation, you should react promptly. If you wait too long, your crab may no longer be able to be saved. So don't cut too timidly but right into the he althy wood.
If your finger bush becomes a little lazy in flowering as it gets older, even though you prune it every year, then the time has come for a rejuvenation cut. The same goes if your crab bush becomes a little bare. This usually happens in the lower area.
Reasons for pruning the crab bush:
- Aging or balding of the bush
- Creating and/or maintaining form
- Stimulate growth
- Shrub becomes lazy to bloom
- Pest Infestation
Can I cut back the finger bush radically?
The crab bush can also tolerate radical pruning. In order to prevent the bush from becoming bald or aging, such a cut is necessary from time to time; regular topiary is usually not enough. So about every two to three years you should pick up the knife a little more boldly. The best time for this is early spring.
Can I also cut cuttings from the finger bush?
The finger bush is very suitable for propagation through cuttings. To do this, cut off shoots about 15 to 20 centimeters long in late autumn or winter and grow them indoors until spring.
The most important things in brief:
- best time for pruning: autumn or early spring
- Do not carry out radical cutting often, at most every 2 to 3 years
- Always remove dead or injured shoots promptly
Tip
The finger bush blooms mainly on the young shoots. Regular pruning makes sense to ensure lush flowers.
