Pruning a burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is an important part of maintaining this popular landscape shrub Proper pruning encourages fuller growth, improves the shrub’s shape, and rejuvenates old and overgrown specimens
When and how you prune a burning bush depends on your goals. Light pruning to shape the shrub can be done anytime. But for rejuvenating old shrubs or controlling growth, the timing and technique is key.
Here is a complete guide to pruning burning bushes successfully.
When to Prune Burning Bushes
Pruning burning bushes at the right time sets the stage for optimal regrowth.
The best time for heavy rejuvenation pruning is late winter or very early spring before any new growth emerges This gives the shrub the entire growing season to produce new stems and foliage.
For routine pruning to maintain shape, you can prune in early spring as soon as you see signs of new growth. Spring shaping removes just the current season’s excessive growth.
Light summer pruning is also possible to correct shape and increase air circulation. But avoid heavy pruning during summer or you risk damaging the current season’s buds.
Never prune burning bushes in fall. This will remove the stems that produce the beautiful fall foliage.
How to Prune Burning Bushes for Rejuvenation
An old, overgrown burning bush can be radically pruned back to rejuvenate it. This severe pruning stimulates the growth of many new stems from the base of the plant.
To rejuvenate an overgrown burning bush:
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Prune in late winter or very early spring before leaves emerge.
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Use loppers and pruners sterilized with rubbing alcohol.
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Cut all stems down to 6-12 inches above the ground.
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Remove any dead or damaged branches.
The shrub will likely produce minimal foliage the first spring after rejuvenation pruning. But the following season it should be full and vigorous again.
Rejuvenation pruning can be done on the whole shrub or just one third of the oldest stems each year over three years.
How to Shape Burning Bushes by Pruning
To maintain or restore a desired shape, burning bushes need pruning every year or two. Here’s how to shape them with pruning:
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Prune in early spring as growth resumes.
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Use sterilized pruning tools.
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Identify branches that are too long or ruin the form.
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Cut these branches back by 1/3 to 1/2 their length.
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Make cuts just above an outward facing bud.
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Remove dead or rubbing branches entirely.
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Thin interior branches to open up the shrub.
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Leave the bottom wider than the top for ample sunlight penetration.
Annual light pruning works better than occasion heavy pruning to shape burning bushes. Aim to remove no more than 30% of the plant.
Pruning Burning Bushes into Hedges
Burning bushes make excellent hedges with their dense foliage and ability to re-sprout after pruning.
To create a hedge:
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Space young shrubs 1-2 feet apart in the row.
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Prune heavily the first spring to force dense growth.
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Prune again each spring, trimming to the desired shape.
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Prune the top narrower than the bottom so light reaches lower foliage.
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Shear the hedge flat across the top and sides for the best effect.
What Not to Do When Pruning Burning Bushes
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Avoid pruning burning bushes in fall before they change color. This will decrease the fall display.
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Don’t prune too heavily. Removing more than 30% of the plant can stunt growth.
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Don’t leave stubs when pruning. Always cut back to just above a healthy bud.
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Don’t let tools tear the bark. Make clean cuts only.
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Don’t prune heavily two years in a row. Give the shrub time to recover between hard pruning.
When to Prune Other Shrubs
Proper timing is key when pruning any shrub. Here is when to prune some other popular landscape shrubs:
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Forsythia – Immediately after flowering
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Hydrangea (mopheads) – Summer before buds set
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Hydrangea (panicles) – Late winter
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Weigela – After flowering
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Spirea – Early spring or immediately after flowering
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Lilac – Immediately after flowering
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Rose of Sharon – Late winter/early spring
Signs Your Burning Bush Needs Pruning
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Branches extending out of the desired shape
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Long, leggy branches with sparse leaves
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Dead branches
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Plant is too large for the space
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Lower branches with no leaves due to lack of light penetration
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Multiple stems from the base or suckering from roots
Supplies for Pruning Burning Bushes
Having the right pruning tools makes pruning easier and healthier for plants. Useful supplies include:
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Bypass hand pruners for stems up to 1/2 inch diameter
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Loppers for thicker stems up to 1 1/2 inches diameter
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Pruning saw for old thick stems and rejuvenation pruning
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Rubbing alcohol and clean cloth to sterilize tools
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Garden gloves to protect your hands
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Trash bags for removing pruned stems
Problems Caused by Improper Pruning
If burning bushes aren’t pruned properly, you may encounter:
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Lack of fall color due to pruning at the wrong time
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Fewer blossoms and stems from pruning too heavily
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Leggy, open growth from pruning too lightly
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Spreading from excessive pruning that stimulates vigorous suckering
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Dieback from making cuts incorrectly
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Disease transmission from using unsterilized tools
The Takeaway
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Time pruning to suit your goals – heavy rejuvenation in late winter, shaping in early spring, light shaping in summer.
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Always sterilize and sharpen tools before pruning.
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Know how much to remove – no more than 30% for shaping.
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Cut to just above an outward facing bud.
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Never prune off all the current season’s growth.
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Avoid fall pruning – it removes stems that would produce fall color.
Following proper techniques for pruning burning bushes will keep them looking their best year after year.
StepsMethod
- 1 Prune in late winter or early spring. Pruning done only for the health of the plant should be scheduled for the late winter or early spring, before new growth has had much chance for development.[1]
- Since burning bushes are primarily grown for their foliage, you dont need to worry too much about accidentally removing flower buds. The most vibrant foliage will grow on new branches, though, so it is still best to trim the bush before new growth has developed.
- When you decide to prune a burning bush for the health of the plant alone, you only need to worry about removing branches that could encourage disease to spread through the plant and destroy it.
- Even if you opt to prune the plant for shape, you should still prune it for health before worrying shape maintenance.
- 2 Remove dead or dying branches. Use pruning shears to cut away any dead branches or branches that have been severely injured.
- Branches are most often injured by disease, insect infestation, animals, or bad weather.
- Cut diseased branched down to their point of origin on the main stem. Doing so is the only way to make sure that the disease does not spread.
- Injured branches can be cut back to their point of origin on the main stem, or you may wish to only cut away the injured portion of the branch. In the latter case, cut the injured branch down to a side branch and make the cut 1/4 inch (6 mm) above the bud.
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- 3 Cut away branches that rub together. Look for any branches or branch stubs that are intertwined or rubbing against each other. Use pruning shears to remove these branches, as well.
- Cut these branches down to their point of origin on the main stem. Problem branches like these will typically grow back again in the same direction, so it is best to remove them completely instead of trimming them down.
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Rejuvenation Pruning
- 1 Plan on pruning around early spring. Rejuvenation pruning is the most severe form of pruning. It is best to do this type of pruning in the late winter or early spring, too, since new growth will be forming shortly thereafter, making it easier for the plant to recover.[4]
- This type of pruning should only be done if the burning bush has become severely overgrown or sickly.
- A healthy burning bush should be able to grow back vigorously after a severe pruning.
- You may need to repeat this practice every year or every other year until all of the thick, overgrown trunks are gone. Once you are only left with thinner stems, you can let the bush grow to its desired height and maintain it with regular health or shape pruning.
- 2 Cut the bush down to ground level.[5] Use hedge shears to cut all of the branches down until they rise no more than 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) above the ground.
- When cutting the entire bush down, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) above the ground.
- Make sure that the cuts are clean and sharp to improve the likelihood of the bush making a full recovery.
- 3 Feed and water the bush thoroughly throughout the season. Since this pruning method is so severe, you will need to pay extra attention to the bush during the first growing season after you prune. Water the plant regularly and apply an appropriate fertilizer.[6]
- Water the burning bush once a week during the first spring and summer. Give it water in the morning (before the full sun of afternoon hits) and make sure that the soil beneath it is thoroughly saturated.
- Apply fertilizer once in the early spring, shortly after you prune the bush, and a second time in the late summer or early fall, roughly two months before you expect a first frost to strike. Select a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and follow the label instructions to determine the proper application method.
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You Can Trim Your Burning Bush WAY BACK!!!
FAQ
How much can you cut back a burning bush?
Or keep pruning. Try to remove no more than 1/4 to 1/3 the total volume. Severe pruning stimulates lots of growth …
What is the best time of year to trim bushes?
Late fall (right around the first frost) and very early spring (right around the last frost) are generally the best times to prune. The plants in your picture don’t seem completely dormant and thus it seems like right now is the perfect time to prune.
Why are burning bushes illegal?
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Invasive Nature:Burning bush is a highly invasive plant that spreads rapidly through seeds dispersed by birds and other wildlife.
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Outcompeting Native Plants:It forms dense thickets, shading out and crowding out native plants, including wildflowers and young trees, which are crucial for forest regeneration.
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Ecological Disruption:The dense growth of burning bush disrupts natural ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and impacting the health of native plant communities.
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Economic Impact:Dealing with invasive species like burning bush can be costly, with estimates suggesting that invasive plants in the US cost taxpayers billions of dollars annually.
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Specific Bans:Some states, such as Massachusetts and New Hampshire, have banned the sale and planting of burning bush to prevent its further spread and protect natural areas.
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Alternative Plants:If you are looking for a similar plant with fall foliage, consider alternatives like highbush blueberry, brilliant chokeberry, redvein enkianthus, or sweet spire.
What shape should a burning bush be?
The habit of the young Burning Bush is upright and vase-shaped. As the Burning Bush matures the natural habit is rounded with horizontal, layered branching. This hardy shrub will grow in full shade to full sun. Just take note that the fall foliage will be slightly muted and growth will be slower in shade.
When should I prune a burning bush?
The ideal time to prune burning bush is during winter dormancy and before new growth starts in the spring. However, you can prune burning bush at other times of the year. Moderate pruning can be done in the spring and very light pruning in the summer.
How do you prune a burning bush shrub?
Wear a pair of garden gloves to protect your hands from cuts and scratches and disinfect your pruning tools before and after use with rubbing alcohol and a cloth or paper towel. If a burning bush shrub is very overgrown and neglected, a hard prune may be in order. Here’s how to do it:
Do burning bush plants need to be pruned?
The health of a burning bush plant does not rely on regular burning bush pruning, the desired size and shape of the plant does. Burning bushes are notorious for slowly overgrowing their space. What started out as a lovely, well-shaped shrub can turn into a monster of a plant that is scruffy, leggy, and sparse.