Summer heathers need an annual pruning for he althy growth. For an optimal result, it depends on the technique and the right time.
The summer heather is a branched small shrub that can reach a height of about 90cm and has evergreen leaves. Since the plant forms many new shoots every year, uncut perennials in particular are quickly threatened with bare growth. Regular pruning is therefore one of the standard care measures for summer heather.
So that you can enjoy the blooms of summer heather every year, you should follow the pruning tips below. Because for an optimal result, the right technique is just as important as the timing.
Pruning summer heather in spring
There are basically two times of year to prune summer heather: in March, before budding and in late autumn after flowering. If possible, decide to cut back shortly before the start of budding. The spring pruning offers the important advantage that the temporarily weakened plants are very unlikely to be surprised by persistent night frosts.
Tool for cutting summer heather
The best tool for trimming summer heather is a pair of very sharp scissors that you can hold with one hand. Thoroughly clean the scissors before use and spray them with an effective disinfectant to get rid of any pathogens that may be present. Use a large model with cutting surfaces at least four inches.
Technique when cutting summer heather
The optimal technique for pruning summer heather depends on whether you have to prune only a few or many perennials. In the case of single plants and a few perennials, you can cut off last year's dried flowers individually with the dry shoot underneath. In a heather garden with many perennials, however, this technique is very time-consuming. The following method is an alternative.
Grasp the individual perennials at the bottom with your hand and press the shoots together a little. Then cut in the area below the bottom onesdried flowers with one or more horizontal cuts. This creates a hemispherical cut upwards, in which the inner shoots are longer than the outer ones. This form goes very well with the natural growth pattern of the summer heath. Always avoid radical pruning up to the immediate vicinity of the ground.
The right weather for cutting summer heather
Choose a dry day to cut back your summer heather. The plants are generally not very susceptible to fungal diseases, but can be attacked by gray mold under unfavorable conditions. If the infestation occurs at the same time as the pruning, it is easier for the fungus to spread to the plants. On an open and airy planted heather bed in a sunny location, the risk of gray mold is further reduced.