Re: When to prune Pittosporum hedge?

danielleraffoul

My hedge is starting to really grow which I am very happy about but also nervous to prune! When is the best time to trim? And how much do I trim? Also how often do I trim? I started growing these plants in Feb 24 and they have just started to get all new leaves and bush out beginning of spring.

Thank you

MitchellMc

Hi @danielleraffoul,

The best time to prune is in the warmer months, mainly spring and early summer, which is perfect now that you're seeing new growth. This is when the plant is actively growing, so it will bounce back quickly after trimming.

Since your hedge is just starting to bush out, you can give it a light prune to encourage thicker growth. I’d recommend cutting back no more than a third of the new growth. This will help shape the hedge and promote a denser look without stressing the plants too much.

As for how often to prune, it depends on the look you’re after. If you want a neat, manicured hedge, you can lightly trim it every 6-8 weeks during the growing season. If you're okay with a more natural look, a couple of trims a year should be enough—once in early spring and again around mid-summer.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell