Pruning Honeyberry Plants
Honeyberry plants are incredibly easy to grow. Not only do they tolerate most soil types and even partial shade, they also require very little in the way of pruning. Pruning is really only necessary in the first 3 to 5 years to only remove dead branches. When it’s time to prune your honeyberry plants, here are some things to know.
NOTE: This is part 8 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow honeyberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Pruning Tips for Honeyberry Plants
Fruit from honeyberry plants is produced on one-year (new) wood. Unless there is damage, try to avoid pruning the tops of the honeyberry plant’s stems. This is the location where a majority of fruit and flower buds develop.
When to Prune Honeyberry Plants
Prune in late winter or early spring while the honeyberry plants are dormant, before the buds swell or break dormancy. Avoid over pruning or excessively pruning honeyberry plants as this can result in removal of fruiting wood and a decrease in fruit production.
How to Prune Honeyberry Plants
After the honeyberry plants have reached their heavy fruiting maturity, usually around year 4 or 5 after planting, consider pruning annually the honeyberry plants to encourage heavier fruit production. Proper pruning will help reduce the amount of shade within the center of the plant, improving fruit quality and production and reducing the risk of fungal issues. It will also encourage new shoot growth.
- Every 2 to 3 years (in early spring before growth begins), remove damaged, dead, and diseased wood.
- Aim to leave 4 to 6 of the most healthy and vigorous older stems and a few strong new shoots.
- New shoots will mature and replace older stems, which keeps a balanced vegetative and fruiting cycle going.
