Trim a griselinia hedge in late spring, and keep the base wider than the top so the lower leaves stay in light.
Trim in late spring, and keep the base wider than the top
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Late spring into early summer, after hard frost risk has passed | Do not cut hard in late fall |
| Shape | Keep the base a little wider than the top | Do not cut a cylinder that shades out the lower leaves |
| Hard cut | Cut a tired hedge to 6 to 12 inches in late spring | Do not skin the plant to bare wood in a hard freeze |
| Looser screen | Snip stems one by one | Do not shear a loose screen if you want a softer outline |
Griselinia clips well once growth has started in late spring. Set canes and string to the height and width you want, then cut inside that line. Take a little more off the top than the sides so the base stays wider and the lower leaves still get light. [1] Wait until hard frost risk has passed, then clip. A second light tidy in late summer is optional on a formal hedge. [2] For a looser screen, snip stems one by one instead of running a shear over the whole face. [3] Left unclipped, a garden plant is often an 8 to 10 foot shrub, so the clip is how you keep a hedge at the height you planted for. [4] A tired hedge can be cut back to 6 to 12 inches from the ground in late spring. Do that job after frost risk has passed, then water and wait for new shoots.
- Wait until late spring, after hard frost risk has passed. Check for nests before you cut.
- Set canes and string to the finished height and width. Cut inside that line.
- Keep the base wider than the top. Do not cut a straight-sided box that shades the lower leaves.
- If the hedge is tired, cut it to 6 to 12 inches in late spring. Do not do that hard cut in late fall.
When do I prune a griselinia hedge?
Trim in late spring into early summer, after hard frost risk has passed. A second light tidy in late summer is optional.
Can I cut a tired hedge back hard?
Yes. Cut it to 6 to 12 inches from the ground in late spring, then water and wait for new shoots.
If the lower leaves have browned out, the sides were cut too straight. Next late spring, recut with a wider base.
FAQ
What if birds are nesting?
Wait. Check the hedge before you cut, and come back after the nest is empty.
What if I missed the spring window?
A light tidy in late summer is fine. Skip a hard cut until the next late spring, because new soft growth takes frost.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] BBC Gardeners' World -
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-griselinia/ - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/8123/griselinia-littoralis/details - [3] PlantRight -
https://plantright.org/better-plants/griselinia-littoralis/ - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=761
This note is part of Griselinia Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors