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Rosemary is great for anherb gardenthanks to its fragrant and gentle nature.
But like all evergreen shrubs,rosemaryneeds repeated pruning to help maintain the plant and keep it growing healthy.
Hence, pruning rosemary helps the plant grow new leaves.
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But finding the right balance in terms of pruning is crucial.
We chatted with an expert gardener to find out when, why, and how to prune rosemary.
To keep this plant thriving in your herb garden, follow these helpful tips.
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Meet the Expert
Why Should You Prune Rosemary Plants?
But also, pruning can encourage growth.
Want more gardening tips?
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When Should You Prune Rosemary Plants?
Rosemary responds best to pruning after it’s done flowering.
This can vary depending on your region and climate.
Hird personally prunes her rosemary plants in early spring since they tend to flower over winter.
However, it’s important to not prune rosemary in late winter, especially during frost.
This is because new growth needs some time to mature before winter snow.
If the plant doesnt harden in time, the plant will become too cold and could die from exposure.
The safest time to prune is during the warmer months in summer.
Then, Hird recommends cutting back any branches that are growing outside the general framework of the plant.
Cut Away Damaged Areas
While trimming, cut away broken or diseased sections of the plant.
Just be sure to cut below the damaged areas.
For tall upright branches, cut them back by about a third to reduce the height, Hird says.
For branches that you havent cut, remove a short section above a leaf node.
This will again encourage more growth later.
Prune After Flowering
Prune your rosemary in spring to early summer after it flowers.
Cut Above the Leaf Node
Be sure to cut just above a leaf node.
This is known as tip pruning.
You just snip off the very tips of each branch to promote new growth, Hird says.
Shape Plants
It’s easy to shape younger rosemary plants into topiary spheres or hedges.
Preserve Some Cuttings
Save a few cuttings if you would like to propagate more rosemary plants.
Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and plant the rosemary cutting in a pot to root.
It is possible to over-prune if you cut back into old bare wood.
Be sure not to do too much pruning over winter because this is a season when growth is slow.
Cutting rosemary in winter will make the plant take a little longer to produce new growth from the cuts.
Also, as a general rule, dont prune off more than a third of the plant.
This can add undue stress to your rosemary, making it susceptible to diseases and pests as it grows.
Cut off the tips of branches above a node to encourage new growth.
Pruning a rosemary plant from a young age will help ensure bushy growth and halt woodiness.
Generally speaking, its harder to keep rosemary alive indoors.
Hence, pruning an already stressed plant would not be a good idea.
Outdoors, a rosemary plant can live up to ten years and will have a moderate growth rate.
